Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 29: Two-day national conference on `Exploring the potential of indigenous animal genetic resources’ began today at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, R S Pura campus of the SKUAST Jammu.
Dr Nirmal Singh, Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly, inaugurated the conference, which is being attended by about two hundred delegates from Animal Breeding & Genetics and other veterinary disciplines.
In his inaugural address, Dr Nirmal Singh laid emphasis on synergy between scientific innovations and indigenous knowledge to focus on yak, pashmina goat and other indigenous animal genetic resources of the State.
MLC G L Raina, who was also present at the inaugural function, said that the Government of India through Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) has given policy thrust via budgetary allocation.
The inaugural keynote address was delivered by Dr V K Taneja, formerly Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, Vice Chancellor Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and Advisor Animal Husbandry Government of Punjab. He said that the official data of livestock sector is miserable and we need hard data to formulate our policies for growth of livestock sector. He said that India being the largest producer of milk in the world at 175 million tones is able to meet per capita needs of the ever growing population but overall livestock population has decreased over time.
On the occasion, Dr Tanaja was conferred with lifetime achievement award for his contribution to scientific knowledge base of animal genetics and breeding. The founding president of ISAG&B, Dr P N Bhat, son of the soil, was also conferred with lifetime achievement award.
Dr K S Risam, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST Jammu, in his presidential remarks, hoped that SKUAST Jammu will provide a great platform to the scientist, academia, and policymakers attending the national symposium to come out with tangible recommendations for sustainable use of indigenous animal genetic resources for enhancing productivity & profitability.
Dr T J S Rasool, president ISA&GB and Dr Vineet Bhasin, Secretary ISA&GB, addressed the inaugural session. Formal vote of thanks was presented by Dr N A Ganai. Others present at the inaugural session were Dr V P Choudhary, Dean College of Food and Agriculture, Abu Dabhi; Dr Abhijit Mitra, Director NRC on Mithuns; Dr R S Gandhi, Assistant Director General ICAR, officers, heads of the divisions and faculty members of the SKUAST Jammu.
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