Shillong, June 25: Biotech-KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) programme sponsored by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, has been identified as one of the important activities for showcasing during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav India@75 celebrations means celebrations of 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence.
As a part of this celebration, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya (Main Hub of the Programme) organized two days virtual training Programme in collaboration with nine partner Institutes or Centres of the Project i.e., ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati, Assam; ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Mizoram Centre (Kolasib), Tripura Centre (Lembucherra), Sikkim Centre (Tadong, Gangtok); ICAR- Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ri-Bhoi, Umiam (Meghalaya), Namsai, (Arunachal Pradesh), Hailakandi(Assam), Chandel (Manipur), Kiphire(Nagaland) on “Establishment of entrepreneurship and marketing of piglets and pork products” w.e.f. 24.06.2021 to 25.06.2021.
The two day online training is for pig farmers of Eight Aspirational Districts of Eight North Eastern States namely Ri-Bhoi (Meghalaya), Mamit (Mizoram), Chandel (Manipur), Hailakandi (Assam), Namsai (Arunachal Pradesh), Kiphire (Nagaland), Dhalai (Tripura) and West Sikkim (Sikkim). At the outset, Dr. R. Laha, Principal Scientist, Division of Animal and Fishery Sciences (DAFS), ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam Meghalaya and Hub Facilitator (Project Coordinator) of the Programme, welcomed all dignitaries, briefed about the purpose of the training, thank DBT for sponsoring the programme and thank Director, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam Meghalaya who always encouraged scientific pig farming and its marketing for improvement off livelihood of pig farmers of north eastern region.
Dr. Mahesh Chander, Head, Extension Education Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, Izatnagat, Uttar Pradesh, Chief Guest of the Inaugural Session of the Programme and a renowned personality in the field of entrepreneurship development and organic farming, given stressed on organic pig farming and organic pork production and its marketing with good packaging and suggested the youth pig farmers to grab the market of north east for income generation. Dr. K.K.Baruah, Head, DAFS, ICAR RC NEHR, Umiam, Meghalaya spoke about scope of Agri Business Incubation (ABI) in north eastern region.
During the programme address and lectures to pig farmers were also delivered by experts from the institute and ICAR-National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati; Dr. Atul Borgohain, Associate Director of Extension Education, Assam Agricultural University,Khanapara, Guwahati in the field of entrepreneurship development and marketing related to improve varieties of piglets production in village level, value added pork products, artificial insemination in pigs etc.
More than 250 numbers of pig farmers of eight Aspirational Districts of eight North Eastern States were benefited through this two days online training programme and not only expressed their satisfaction with this training programme but also demanded for such type of online training in future as presently they are not able to present physically in the Institute to attend such type of training for restriction of movement due to COVID-19 situation.
