AH Deptt Ramban awarded for Azolla project

5 Dariya News (Rouf Pampori)

Ramban 17-Aug-2015

The Animal Husbandry Department Ramban was  conferred with outstanding  performance  award on the occasion  of  69th Independence Day  by  Minister  for Law, Justice  and parliamentary Affairs, Relief &  Rehabilitation,   Syed Basharat  Bukhari in the presence of   Member Legislative Assembly Ramban, Neelam Langeh   and District  Development  Commissioner, Ramban Farooq Shah Bukhari.An Experimental  Project  on cultivation, production  &  popularization  of  Azolla fern , a promising  Fodder supplement  for  Cattle  &  Poultry  was  earlier  launched  by A.H. Department Ramban under Convergence programme  with  MG- NREGA assistance. The project was a  great success and the  production process  of  growing  Azolla  (Shill in dogri)  in artificially dug economic pits  was  perfected over a  period of  3-4  months  . The produce is presently  being fed to  few milch  cows  and  poultry  birds  around Kahubagh, and Maitra,  Ramban at a small  scale, which has so far been well adopted  by the animals and birds.

Azolla  a 25-32 % rich protein & mineral source  can prove to be a good fodder  supplement especially  in  mountainous  / hilly  districts  like  Ramban, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Kupwara etc  which are  both  land, water  and  fodder  deficient.  Feeding 1 kg of Azolla  regularly to  a milch cow  can increase  milk  production up to  1 liter per day and likewise feeding 60 grams Azolla to an egg laying hen also  enhances egg  production significantly.“Azolla production is quite easy & cost just around 90 paisa per kg production” informed Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Ramban who headed the Azolla Project. He thanked the District Development Commissioner Farooq Shah  Bukhari  for encouragement & taking keen interest in the Azolla Project. He also acknowledged the guidance provided by Dr. Pillai, Project Director Azolla, Vivekanand Kendre, Kanyakumari and the Director, Regional Fodder Station, Hissar from time to time.