Training on efficient utilization of draught animals held at Namthang

GANGTOK, 15 Nov: The College of Agriculture Engineering and Post Harvest Technology [CAEPHT], Centre of All India Coordinated Research Project on Increased Utilization of Animal Energy with Enhanced System Efficiency [AICRP on UAE], conducted joint training KVK, Namthang recently for efficient utilization of draught animals.
A total of 33 farmers of Namthang region attended the training program on management of draught animals for animal based farming system on terraces of South district.
Addressing the training program, Principal Investigator, Dr. RK Tiwari, briefed about the purpose and schedule of the three-day training program. He also emphasized about the sanitation measures to be taken in the improved animal shelter for ensuring better health and hygiene of the work animals for timely and higher work output especially during seasonal operators. Program Coordinator, KVK, Namthang, Dr. Tilak Gajmer, mentioned about the role of KVK in promoting animal based farming for major crops of the region.
The highlight of the training included display and demonstration of improved equipment package [Improved wedge plough, Improved peg type puddler, Improved helical blade puddler, Two row improved zero-till seed drill, Two row maize planter, Cono weeder, manual wheel hand hoe, Improved yoke and tubular maize sheller] for cultivation of rice, maize, mustard, black gram, buck wheat and ginger.
Likewise, Joint Director for Department of Animal Husbandry, Gangtok, Dr. GS Sharma, informed about the health care and sanitation measures needed for work animals including the nutritive feed formulation.
Livestock Assistant, CAEPHT, Dr. BK, explained the use of herbal medicines for draught animals and demonstrated the feed formulation using wheat bran [35%], ground maize [33%], mustard oil cake [30%], mineral mixture [1%] and salt [1%] to the participants. He also explained about the use of preventive medicines in the healthcare kit for animals based on the symptoms of the sick animals when required.
SK Chauhan explained about the benefits of zero till drilling to the farmers, to complete sowing operation in single pass without preparatory tillage which would save time [65%] and cost of operation [70%] compared to the traditional practices of farmers [02 ploughing + 01 planking operations].
During the concluding session, the chief guest, Devi Maya Baraily, Vice Chaiman, Zilla Parishad, South Sikkim, urged the farmers to use animal drawn improved equipment package for increasing crop productivity in the region. She appreciated the joint efforts of CAEPHT [CAU], Ranipool and KVK, Namthang for creating awareness regarding the use of improved equipment and nutritional feed to the work animals.
Ms. Baraily distributed the certificates to the participants, including animal health care kits along with pamphlets.
The farmers of South Sikkim District appreciated the mechanization effort of UAE Centre, Ranipool and expressed their willingness to adopt the improved equipment along with their traditional package due to cost-effectiveness and higher work rate.