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.