- State level workshop of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department
The Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department organized a state-level workshop on opportunities and innovations in green fodder production and fodder-based entrepreneurship at Devi Ahilya Auditorium, State Training Institute, Bhopal on Monday. Three major categories related to the fodder sector – fodder/silage/fodder block entrepreneurs, consumers and various stakeholders associated with fodder marketing were invited to the workshop. Entrepreneurs associated with silage, hay-fodder block and fodder seed production, progressive animal breeders, FPOs, cooperative institutions and experts participated during the workshop.
The workshop was attended by prestigious national organizations such as IGFRI Jhansi, Varna Milk Union Kolhapur, BAIF, CBOs, FPOs, silage manufacturing company Cornext, and Daawat Rice, among others. All stakeholders shared their experiences and discussed the business potential of fodder-based enterprises and their widespread commercialization in the state.
Two panel sessions were organised under the programme, in which experts from various fields like silage-hay-fodder seed production and fodder blocks shared their experiences, innovations and suggestions and interacted with the participants.
The participants were divided into three groups and a group discussion was held. In Group 1, the possibilities of scaling up the silage business in the state were discussed. In this, there was a dialogue between silage producers, consumers and distributors. In Group 2, there was a discussion on fodder seed production. Seed producing institutions and livestock farmers participated in this. In Group 3, there was a detailed discussion on fodder block production. In this, fodder suppliers, consumers and distribution system were discussed. Based on the suggestions and recommendations received in the workshop, a comprehensive and effective fodder development action plan will be prepared by the department for the state, which will ensure availability of quality fodder to livestock farmers and will promote fodder-based entrepreneurship.
Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Umakant Umrao, Director Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. P.S. Patel, Principal Scientist and Project Coordinator, IGFRI Jhansi Dr. Vijay Kumar Yadav, Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited and Livestock-Poultry Development Corporation, representatives of NABARD, Apex Bank and Energy, Environment and Water Council, New Delhi were present.