To go Hi-tech: Milking made easy

Patna, April 29: After Lalu Prasad it’s the uber urban Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar, who is going the “milky” way.

The state government’s Gavya Vikas Nideshalaya, under the animal husbandry department, has initiated a programme where they are sending teams of 30 dairy farmers to the National Dairy Research Institute at Karnal, Haryana, on a rotation basis, to receive training in breeding, feeding, health-care and management of dairy animals.

The second batch of farmers from Madhubani completed their five-day training at Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Dairy Training Centre at the NDRI last week. While the first batch of 30, from Nalanda, had completed their training on April 13. The farmers were chosen at block levels. For now, the first and second batches are back to test their knowledge through first-hand experience.

“Just as dieticians prescribe food charts for humans, we believe that animals should be also given prescribed food that varies from season to season,” said Dalip K. Gosain, the DTC head.

The third group of farmers, this time from Samastipur, would be making their visit to Karnal sometime next month, Once trained, the farmers are expected to share their knowledge with the dairy farmers in their area.

The travel, food and living expenses incurred during training would be borne by Gavya Vikas Nideshalaya . Gosain said NDRI scientists and specialists talked to farmers about the scientific feeding that had a direct bearing on the milk production and reproduction of dairy animals. Rakesh Kumar, a Nalanda farmer, who visited NDRI, told The Telegraph: “Harjeet Kaur, principal scientist of dairy cattle nutrition division of NDRI, told us about the right proportion of mineral mixture and different rations to feed dairy animals.”

Kumar, who runs a dairy farm at Biharsharif, added: “I have over 50 cows. Offering them a balanced diet, rather than just husk and mustard cakes, will increase production.”