AHLF&VS official team tours East Sikkim to assess status of ongoing schemes

Sagar Chhetri
GANGTOK, 01 Feb: An Evaluation of Silage Making and Green Fodder Cultivation of Oats at farmers’ field level at different places in East Sikkim was carried out by the department of Animal Husbandry, Livestock Fisheries & Veterinary Services [AHLF&VS] on 21 January.
The team of officials led by the Secretary, DP Sharma, made a field visit to Rumtek, Pastanga Assam Lingzey, and Pabyuk-Naitam where a maximum number of Milk Cooperative Societies are concentrated, to assess whether the farmers have been taking advantage of the benefits distributed by the department.
An AHLF&VS press release informs that while inspecting cultivable fields of the beneficiaries where oat seeds were sown in one or two places they found oat grass have grown fairly well and in some fields farmers have carried out their first harvest and are now waiting for the next harvest. Due to severe cold and shortage of water, growth has not taken place as expected, the release adds.
However, farmers have expressed their satisfaction over the benefits distributed by the Department which are meant for the farmers, it is informed.
The team also visited Silage making sites at Pastanga, Assam Lingzey and Pabyuk-Naitam.
According to the release, silage making is a scientific method of preserving green fodder grasses whereby fodder tree leafy green grass are put in pit measuring 7’x7’x5’ for about three to four months in air tight condition and the product is then fed to animals during the dry period when availability of green fodder is less.
Though this technology is an old one, it has been recently introduced at the field level in the State and the department has provided cash amount of Rs.27, 500 each to the beneficiaries for construction of Silo pit, the release states.
The team found that some of the farmers of Pastanga and Pabyuk are doing well in dairy farming. The team also inspected Chaff cutter provided to farmers to know whether they are being used for the specific purpose and it was found that farmers were satisfied and expressed their happiness that after availing chaff-cutter no fodder grass is being wasted, the release mentions.
The Secretary assured to provide all possible support from the department to the farmers and encouraged them to help make Sikkim self sufficient in livestock products.  He also visited Namcheybong, Nandok and Raigaon where Fish Pond construction has been allotted to the people. Some of the beneficiaries have started harvesting of Common Carp, Black Carp fishes while some of the farmers shared that they have already harvested 2.5 kg of Carp Fish which were sold locally, the release further states.