Northern Zone Regional Agriculture Fair

Northern Zone Regional Agriculture Fair – 2015 concluded at IVRI
A four-day Northern Zone Regional Agriculture Fair
(NZRAF) – 2015 of ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute
(IVRI), supported by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Govt. of India, New Delhi was concluded on 20th
March, 2015 at IVRI headquarters, Izatnagar with great
enthusiasm and fervor.
Dr M.P. Yadav, Former Vice-Chancellor, Sardar
Ballabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology,
Meerut graced the closing ceremony as Chief Guest and
distributed prizes & certificates along with other dignitaries
to the winners of various competitions. A souvenir in Hindi on
completion of 125 years of IVRI was also released by the chief
guest. On this occasion, Shri Vedpal Singh from Akkha Village,
Bareilly received the “Best Animal-Overall Championship
Trophy” for his Sahiwal breed calf.
In his address, Dr. Yadav emphasized that interactions
of farmers among themselves after visiting the fair will
further propagate knowledge in wider population. He
highlighted the issues of climate change and declining
agriculture production, food security, nutritional security,
malnutrition in masses, stagnancy in agriculture production
and social gap because of developments in pockets. While
discussing on Govt. policies such as Kamdhenu Yojna by Uttar
Pradesh Government and Gokul Mission by Central
government, he opined some amendments such as different
standards for cow and buffalo milk, categorizations of cows
milk in A1 and A2 category, reduction in limit of minimum
production/animal under Kamdhenu Yojna, minimum support
price for livestock & Poultry produce, financial support either
in the form of direct subsidy/incentives to milk producer,
strengthening of co-operative societies for other agricultural
produce similar to dairy, direct aid to livestock owners for
expenses incurred on veterinary, nutritional, insurance or
managemental aspects of livestock rearing, etc. In his brief
keynote address he stressed upon need of 2nd green
revolution which could be achievable from integration of
crop production with livestock, poultry, fisheries and
horticulture.
Dr. R.K. Singh, Director, IVRI appreciated the wisdom
of livestock owners and elaborated how the technologies of
cloning and stem cell can be useful for increasing the elite
germ-plasm in short period of time which is quiet necessary
to meet out the future demand. He also assured all possible
help from institute to farmers like deputation of technical
staff versed with local dialects for easy communication at
exhibition stall, preparation of exhibition material in farmer
friendly version and stressed upon personal interactions with
experts, scientists for objective solution of their livestock related problems.
On this occasion, the Guests of Honour, Dr
Nagendra Sharma, Former Vice Chancellor, Shere-e-Kashmir
University of Animal Science & Technology, Jammu; Dr. S.K.
Agarwal, Director, Central Institute of Research on Goats,
Makhdoom; Shri Dinesh Juyal, Chief Editor, Dainik Amar
Ujala, Bareilly also shared their views and appreciated the
efforts of IVRI for well being of livestock and its owners.
Dr. Mahesh Chander, Joint Director, Extension
Education and convener of the Agriculture Fair briefed
about the 4- day NZRAF-2015 and informed that more than
60 stalls were placed by various organizations including
ICAR Institutes, SAUs, State and Central Departments, KVKs,
pharmaceuticals , medical services, pesticides & fertilizers,
Seed/Feed/ Nursery suppliers, Farm Machineries,
Automobiles, Electronics, Gramoudyog, Real Estate
Agencies and NGOs. The agriculture fair was attended by
about 15000 visitors including farmers, livestock owners,
agri-preneurs, field functionaries, students from Uttar
Pradesh and other neighboring states. He further informed
that during the agriculture fair competitions were organized
for 21 different categories of animals and winners were
awarded. The human health examination was also attracted
the visitors who got themselves examined for Blood sugar,
bone density, Hemoglobin, teeth etc on free basis provided
by the hospitals & medical colleges. Exhibitions stalls under
different categories were awarded based on their
comprehensive evaluation. The report also included the
words of appreciation for National Kathak Institute,
Varanasi for evening cultural event attended by one and all,
team of puppet show. He appreciated the enthusiasm of
farmers for their participation and also thanked sponsors
for their zeal.
Dr S.V.S. Malik, Principal Scientist and Scientific
Secretary to the Director, IVRI welcomed the Chief Guest
and other dignitaries those present on the occasion and also
anchored the closing ceremony. Dr B.P. Singh, Principal
Scientist, Joint Directorate of Extension Education proposed
vote of thanks.