News & Announcements

Universities must give more emphasis to need based research Says Sri. Rudra Gangadharan IAS

                                     Universities must give more emphasis to need based research says Secretary Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India Sri. Rudra Gangadharan IAS. Secretary visited the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Mannuthy Campus on 14th June 2012 and addressed the officers and faculty members of KVASU. Secretary explained in detail about the challenges and priorities of livestock sector research and extension in the country. Small farmers, marginal farmers and agricultural laborers are rearing 70-75 percent of the livestock in the country for livelihood, human security, nutrition and  employment with an average herd size of 1-3 bovines.  Women  play a crucial role in livestock production in the country and are the back bone of this sector. This sector plays a key role in poverty alleviation and people are started rearing livestock and they are back on hooves. There is a correlation between extent of land available for livestock production and the declining trend in poverty alleviation in the country. Secretary added.
                             Livestock sector plays a crucial role in assuring food security in the country. Productivity from livestock sector is less in the country. It must be increased or enhanced. India has more than 450 million middle class people regularly purchasing livestock products from the market. Countries like United States having less than 300 million population are eager to export quality livestock products like poultry and dairy products from the Indian market. Recently as the purchasing power of people are increasing day by day, majority of the people used to purchase quality livestock products with attractive packaging from the market. Whereas livestock production is a livelihood option in India. So immediate challenge is to strengthen commercial production so as improve the trade of livestock products. Countries like United States are eagerly waiting to lift import ban from India. What will be the fate of livestock production in the country if we start importing quality products from the west? So we have to think of producing quality livestock products for export so as to push Indian products to outside. Regarding livestock production production is under low import, low output system. Most of sheep and goat production are under nomadic system.
Cost of production of livestock products are increasing day by day due to increase in cost production and cost of processing. Labor cost is more than 20% in this sector. Government is making all efforts to improve more inflow of funds towards Animal Husbandry Sector in the country.
Infrastructure facilities in livestock sector in must be improved. Door step delivery of veterinary services will improve livestock health. Livestock diseases cause an annual loss of 3800 Crores rupees in the country. Bio security measures must be strengthened. Veterinary services must be oriented more towards preventive rather than curative in nature. Basic Diagnostic facilities must be improved. Quality professionals are needed to cater the increasing need of diagnosis, biological production, etc. Our production standards must be in tune with Food safety and standards. Trade of livestock products is major areas which need more emphasis in the country. Research institutions must take this as a challenge. Traceability is a major issue in livestock products trade. Not much work has been done in this sector. Animal disease surveillance has to be strengthened.
Livestock sector has huge commercial potential in the country. Production system has to be geared to meet the demands in the domestic and international market. Fixed tariff barriers must be monitored. Teaching should have an orientation towards trade. Animal traceability need to be given much attention. Teaching, Research and Extension are the major domains of Veterinary college/University.Extension activities must be strengthened. Some of the veterinary institutions are not meeting the quality as stipulated by Veterinary Council of India. Quality of teaching and research must be upgraded in tune with the international standards.
                                          Universities must give more emphasis to need based research. Productivity enhancement, multiple ovulation and Embryo Transfer Technology, Marker assisted gene selection and thermostable vaccine production are some of the research areas which need immediate attention. One shot vaccine for Foot and Mouth Disease will help to facilitate eradication of FMD from the country. Research works on frozen semen technology in Pig, sheep and goat production need more emphasis at the same time duplication of research activities should not be promoted.
                                              Over the years farmers with thorough knowledge of livestock production practices facilitated the formation of different breeds of livestock. Extension activities must be oriented towards building strong and continuous communication with farmers. Local livestock breeds must be encouraged. Universities must accept faculties from outside the campus. Sri. Rudra Gangadharan opined that Researchers must be given the option to attend abroad training programmes. Twinning programmes with pioneering educational and research institutions must be achieved so as to improve teaching, research and extension activities of the University. Registrar KVASU Dr.C.B.Manomohan welcomed the gathering. Director of Entrepreneurship Dr.S.Ramkumar addressed the gathering. Director of Academics and Research Dr. A. Jalaludeen expressed vote of thanks.