Minister of Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Gani Kohli has said the Government has initiated multiple initiatives for growth of livestock industry in the State so as to lay the foundations of an economy which is robust and vibrant.The Minister said this while addressing a gathering during a one day demonstration cum technical workshop on the art of growing fodder through Hydroponics organized by the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, here today.The workshop is being organized with an aim to resolve the fodder scarcity issue in livestock industry and find ways, means to address this concern.The Minister taking active interest in various techniques, measures highlighted during the workshop to resolve this growing concern, advised his department to initiate testing of these techniques at ground level so as to ascertain this model’s efficacy and viability in the state’s livestock industry.He said the results from these test cases would further help tailor this technique’s implementation in the State to reap maximum output at its adoption. He assured of Government’s full cooperation for popularizing this endeavor once it passes the initial testing phase.
Various experts, stakeholders participated in the workshop including concerned officers from Agriculture and allied departments. A special expert in hydroponic technique, Dr Bhaskar was specially invited from Maharashtra by the department to apprise the gathering about the technique.Dr. Bhaskar in his detailed presentation discussed at length the details of growing fodder through hydroponics and demonstrated the strength of this technique to grow 600 quintals of highly nutritious and palatable fodder in an area of 50 square metres in just 7 days that would be otherwise grown on a land base of 10000 square metres under the conventional method in at least 60 days.It was further detailed in the workshop that as per the technique, the fodder can be grown under controlled conditions on racks in a special built enclosure that would provide highly nutritious fodder all round the year.A farmer could save Rs 2 lakh on feeding 10 animals round the year by the use of this technique. Many dairy farmers attending the workshop interacted at length with the expert who responded to all their queries.Among others, Director Animal Husbandry Dr S K Abrol and senior offices and officials from Animal Husbandry, allied departments also attended the workshop.