The new technologies developed in different areas of Veterinary, Animal Sciences, Poultry & Fisheries are effectively communicated to the livestock farmers who are the ultimate beneficiaries of such technologies. The extension services also help in identifying the researchable problems faced by the livestock farmers and provide new research issues to the scientists. The technologies are effectively transferred through following activities:
Pashu Palan Mela is one of the best approaches for transferring the technologies generated at the University to livestock farmers of the State. It is usually a two day affair and is organized in the month of March and September every year at Ludhiana campus. More than 50,000 farmers visit the venue on each day. Various departments of the university exhibit new technologies/ innovations for use in livestock and poultry farming. On this occasion, other Govt. and private agencies involved in animal welfare work also display their exhibits of importance to the farmers.
Directorate also holds Pashu Palan Melas at its regional centers at Kaljharani and Talwara. Participation is also ensured in the Kisan Melas organized by PAU at its four Regional Research Stations in different parts of Punjab.
The major objectives of these Pashu Palan Melas are
Livestock shows are also organized by this directorate to encourage development of social relationships, leadership qualities, responsibility, confidence, sportsmanship among livestock farmers. These shows motivate the farmers to start a new venture or to improve the existing farming enterprise into a more profitable business.
The innovative technologies and research achievements of the University are showcased in exhibitions organized at the occasion of seminars, conferences, workshops, special occasions etc. Conservation of natural resources, mitigation measures to counteract ill effects emerging due to climatic changes and location specific integrated farming system models are mostly stressed upon in these exhibitions. Videos of certain specific problems of animals are played at the occasions. Area specific mineral mixture, uromin licks, byepass fat, Mastitis detection kits and other inputs are sold to the needy farmers. New technologies, technical novelties or innovations are displayed on posters at the occasion.
Animal Health Camps are being organized by various departments of the University under the aegis of Directorate of Extension Education. These are usually a one day affair. Repeat breeding, anoestrus and mastitis are the major problems encountered in the rural dairy animals. Owing to major chunk of cases belonging to reproductive disorders, these camps are also known as Infertility Camps. Poor and marginal farmers get benefitted through participation in these camps. Certain Gram Panchayats, NGOs, Cooperative Societies (Milkfed and Markfed), Government or Semi-Government Agencies (PAU, KVKs, ATMA) and Banking Institutions, sometimes, sponsor these camps.
The organization of awareness camps is helpful for disseminating information on general health and production issues. Various subject matter specialists deliver their lectures on specific topics in these camps. When the awareness camp is restricted to one theme only, then, it is termed as Field Day. These are organized almost every week by KVKs/ RRTCs.
The University organizes meeting of Animal Husbandry Farmers of the state to chalk out future research programmes of the University. This meeting is usually organized annually or biannually.
Training is a specialized kind of education, which is mostly skill oriented. It is education for a very specific purpose, where the end product is pre-determined based on performance. The concern here is enhancing the ability of an individual to accomplish a set of tasks by providing an opportunity which results in acquiring the new and upgraded ability in performing the skill. The directorate organizes specialized training courses for dairy, poultry, piggery, and fish farming and value addition of livestock products for the farmers, army personnel and for persons related with other animal welfare agencies to transfer new technologies evolved by the university. Following is the list of these trainings.
|
S No |
Course Title |
Duration |
Conducted in the Month of |
|
1 |
Training Course in Dairy Farming |
2 Weeks |
January, May, July |
|
2 |
Training Course in Pig Farming |
1 Week |
March |
|
3 |
Training Course in Poultry Farming |
2 Weeks |
November |
|
4 |
Feed Manufacturers Training Course |
3 days |
As per Request |
|
5 |
Commercial Dairy Farming Course |
2 Months |
As per Demand |
|
6 |
Fish Farming Training Course |
1 Week |
July |
|
7 |
Training on Technologies for Higher Fish Production |
10 days |
As per Demand |
|
8 |
Training on Ornamental Fish Farming |
2 days |
As per Demand |
|
9 |
Training Course in Goat Farming |
5 days |
February |
|
10 |
Training for Dog Owners |
1 day |
As per Demand |
|
11 |
Processing of milk into value added milk products |
1 Week |
As per Demand |
|
12 |
Development of different processed meat products |
2 Weeks |
As per Demand |
|
13 |
Egg quality evaluation & development of value added products |
1 Week |
As per Demand |
|
14 |
Fish Processing & Value added fish products |
1 Week |
As per Demand |
The Regional Research and Training Centres, which are well-equipped with audio-visual gadgets for effective communication, have been instrumental in dissemination and transfer of knowledge. Trainings are regularly conducted for adopting new practices and technologies by the farmers and self-help groups in Kandi and Bet areas of the State.
Interface and workshops are regularly organized for the officers of the State Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries departments, Dairy Co-operative Federation, Banking Sector officials, Feed Manufacturers and other development departments/agencies related with animal welfare. Demand based short term and long term training programmes are also organized for updating the field officers
Such workshops also provide platform for the interaction of scientists of the University with field functionaries which help the University to do farmer oriented research.
Implementation of technologies generated by the University generates a number of success stories across the state involving all kinds of livestock. The typical success stories need to be replicated to enhance the sustainability of the technologies. This often proves as a stimulus for the ordinary farmers to undertake enterprising activity in different spheres of livestock farming. Print and electronic media is tapped to disseminate the success stories to as large a number of farmers as possible.
E. Establishment of Entrepreneurs’ Associations
The extension services in the University have provided a platform for the establishment of different categories of Farmers’ Associations with necessary technical support of the University and following associations are operational at present:
These organizations develop and implement the programmes for the improvement and conservation of livestock to improve the economy of different livestock farming systems by adopting the latest technologies. Each of these organizations has a technical coordinator, who is the subject matter expert of the University and develop its constitution and plan of work for implementation with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor. The Breed associations established in the state of Punjab also collaborate with sister associations in other states having similar breed improvement programmes of different species and also exchange the germplasm for extensive testing and evaluation in order to increase reliability and the genetic progress and to test the improved germplasm of different species in different regions of the country.
F. Liaison with electronic media
University has liaison with electronic media for flashing various livestock related interventions and precautions for disease control and seasonal correct management practices. University experts deliver TV talks regularly on Doordarshan/ Cable networks/ private channels on current & seasonal topics related to livestock and fish farming. On an average two to three talks are delivered/broadcasted in a week. During the last 5 years, a total of 403 TV talks were telecast.
For the deep penetration of knowledge in the far flung areas, university has developed a strong liaison with All India Radio stations at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Patiala. Three hundred ninety eight (398) radio talks were broadcasted in last 5 years.
G. Publications
The University has been publishing 29 books and one monthly magazine “Vigiyanik Pashu Palan” for disseminating the technical information along with university recommendations to the livestock farmers. A total of sixty (60) issues of “Vigiyanik Pashu Palan” magazine have been published in the last five years covering entire Punjab state along with six other states of the country. In addition, the University experts regularly publish articles along with advisories to the livestock farmers‟ in various newspapers and magazines
Some of the university publications are: Package of Practices for Livestock Health Management, Progressive Livestock Farming and Vigyanak Pashu Palan (Monthly Punjabi Magazine), Handbook on Infectious Animal Diseases, Veterinary Punjabi Shabadkosh, Dairy Farming, Goat Farming (English & Punjabi), GADVASU handbook, Poultry Farming and GADVASU News letter.
H. Village Adopted Program:
The Directorate adopts a village to establish an Animal Welfare Centre to provide scientific and other inputs to develop it as a model village. Previously, Animal Welfare Centres were established at Villages Gureh and Umaidpur. Interventions resulted in improved productivity, reproductive fitness and reduced mortality/morbidity of the livestock
I. Consultancies/Assignments
1. Farmers Advisory Helpline-0161-2414026, 0161-2414005:
The telephonic helpline in the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education attends to the queries of livestock owners regarding the animal health and management problems under the motto “you ask we reply’. The University has been receiving calls from distant areas like Haryana, U.P, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, H.P, M.P, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Delhi and J&K. The farmer queries are attended on helpline for on the spot solutions. On an average 15-25 calls are received/attended daily.
2. Farmers Information Centre:
Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education operates a Farmers Information Centre as a single window system to cater to the needs of the farmer at single place. The farmers are being given technical advice during their visit to the University. The various university publications/extension literatures are available in the Farmer Information Centre for the use and purchase by the farmers. The faculty attends to the farmer queries on various subject matters at this Centre.
J. E-Extension
Sensing the scope and popularity of cellular network, the University has recently launched an android mobile app on precision dairy farming. The information/recommendations /advisories to the member of various livestock farmers association and other registered farmers are provider through WhatsApp and text Message Services (SMS). Different video CD‟s have been developed and are made available to the farmers.
K. Chief Minister Award:
To give a push to the livestock farming, GADVASU conferred Chief Minister Award to the innovative and progressive farmers in buffalo, cattle, goat, poultry, pig and fish farming every year. These farmers in turn become the role model for the fellow farmers and instigate young farmers to follow and simulate. During last 5 years, 18 livestock farmers were conferred with Chief Minister Awards by the university.
