Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (A&FW), Radha Mohan Singh, inaugurated the much awaited College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry (CoVS&AH) at Jalukie on Saturday. Union Cabinet had recently approved the amendment of CAU Act, 1992 to include the state of Nagaland under the jurisdiction of the Central Agricultural University, Imphal.
Speaking at inaugural programme, Singh announced that Veterinary Council of India (VCI) has agreed to commence the college by September 15 this academic year. He expressed hope that the College would complement the development of Animal Husbandry development in Nagaland and benefit the people of Nagaland. Union minister said the Nagaland government has been kind enough to provide suitable land free of cost to establish the College and expressed happiness over the involvement of the Nagaland government for the establishment of the College.
Singh further expressed hope that this new college would try to maintain higher standards of education and help Nagaland to make rapid development and advancement in term of agriculture and allied sciences and human resource sector.
Further, the minister envisioned the role of this College that would go a long way in helping Nagaland in accessing modern technologies to fulfil the vision of the state government for self-sufficiency in animal husbandry produces, given the reality that livestock, piggery and poultry farming has been an integral part of the Naga people.
Union Minister said agricultural education played an important role in ensuring food security and human resource development in any society, wherein the role of Universities was pivotal.
Considering this need, he said the Government of India established Central Agricultural University in the region in 1992. The University has so far established seven colleges. Keeping in view the advancement of human resource and agricultural and allied sciences, during the Twelve Five Year Plan, the Centre added six more colleges in the Region. The CoVS&AH, Jalukie is also one of the colleges added during the Twelve Five Year Plan, he said.
While the College was being established by the Central Government, Singh said help and support of the state government and VCI was also equally important in achieving the mandate of the College in letter and spirit. Minister also assured that the infrastructure will be developed in a faster speed and all required posts of teaching and non-teaching staff will be filled up expeditiously.
Union Minister also announced that another Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) would be established in Kiphire district. He said front line demonstration of pulses and oil seeds would be conducted in 60 hectares and 220 hectares respectively in the state this year.
Delivering keynote address, State chief minister, T.R Zeliang, described the day as another important milestone in the history of the onward journey of Nagaland towards all round development.
Zeliang informed that while seeking to achieve self sufficiency in meat production by 2025 and the Vision Document, the state government had submitted a proposal with DPR for exotic pig breeding farm at Jalukie and a slaughter house cum meat processing unit at Khopanala Dimapur.
However, he regretted that though the Planning Commission had agreed in principle, the project was turned down at the later stage. In this regard, the chief minister requested the union minister to revive the project proposal.
He was optimistic that the new CoVS&AH would become an important player and catalyst in the socio-economic development of the state. Zeliang also expressed hope that the college would not churn out a number of veterinary doctors every year, who would be knocking at the doors of the government to provide them jobs but produce an army of dedicated veterinary doctors who will become hands-on practitioners and animal farmers. He was also hopeful that the college to be more of research oriented than focusing on mere academic results. The chief minister said the state government was working with the Tata Trust foundation for genetic improvement of the livestock’s through cross-breeding or infusion of superior germplasm. He said ICAR at Jharnapani has also been working on Nagaland Mithun Research Project to improve the health and breed of the local Mithun.
Zeliang expressed gratitude to the union minister for taking a bold and proactive step in seeing that the dream college became a reality by laying not only the foundation stone but inaugurating the college today itself.
CAU Imphal vice chancellor, Prof. M. Premjit Singh; secretary (DARE), Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General ICAR, New Delhi, Dr S V Ngachan; director ICAR Research Complex NEH Region, Barapani Umain, Dr Abhijit Mitra; director NRC on Mithun, Jharnapani and parliamentary secretary , animal husbandry and veterinary services S Chuba Longkumer also spoke on the occasion.
The union minister also inaugurated the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Peren becoming the 10th KVK in the state.
Two modules books on distant education programme and on policy on pig breeding book by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services was also released by the chief guest.
A host of ministers, parliamentary secretaries, advisors, MLAs, senior government officials, representatives from Naga Hoho, ENPO, NMA, NSF, village councils and others attended the function.
Meanwhile, the Naga Students Federation (NSF), in a press release, has acknowledged the union minister Radha Mohan Singh for inaugurating college and also the state government for the relentless efforts in making the dream of the students into reality. The federation expressed hope that through this new college, the Nagas would be immensely blessed and benefitted particularly the student community.
CM calls for people’s movement through KVK
Correspondent
JALUKIE, AUG 6 (NPN): With the inaugural of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or Agriculture Science Centre in Peren, chief minister T.R. Zeliang on Saturday urged upon all to make best possible use of KVK, saying “there should be a people’s movement as KVK was meant not only for the technical people but it involves every individual”.
Addressing the farmers fair cum exhibition programme held Jalukie organised by ICAR, Nagaland Centre Jharnapani Medziphema, Zeliang appealed to the gathering to be prepared to learn from KVK officials and at the same time to change the mindset by inculcating the habit of work culture.
He also appealed all, particularly farmers to work together with KVK officials in order to make Nagaland an economically independent state.
Zeliang also noted that Nagaland was becoming more dependent on import of meat for domestic consumption. For this, he informed that the Vety.&AH department launched a major effort to increase domestic meat production to reduce the dependency on meat import.
He said it was estimated that the state’s import of meat, milk and eggs still stands at around Rs. 213 crore per year, out of which import of pork was the highest.
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, parliamentary secretary, S. Chuba Longkumer who graced the occasion as guest of honor lauded ICAR authority for imparting the latest know-how to farmers through work experience and by applying the principles of “teaching by doing and learning by doing”. He said trainings as per the needs and requirements in agriculture and allied enterprises to all farmers, farm women and youths including school drop outs in a rural area was welcoming step initiated by ICAR.
He expressed confidence that 85 recognized villages and 10 unrecognized villages and its people under Peren district would get the maximum benefit out of the KVK.
He also appealed ICAR to cater the needs of the people through scientific knowledge and expertise particularly in the rural areas.
Meanwhile, the KVK also distributed fingerlings, water-pumps and other items to farmers on the occasion.
Ministers, parliamentary secretaries, advisors, MLA’s, senior government officials and others attended the programme.