By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 23: A three-day training-cum-input distribution programme under KSHAMTA (Knowledge Systems and Homestead Agriculture Management in Tribal Areas) on ‘Poultry Farming’ was conducted by ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, West Garo Hills, which concluded on Friday. The training was held at KVK campus.
KSHAMTA was implanted by ICAR in the year 2019 in 125 districts of the country where tribal population is 25% or more with a goal of agricultural development using the traditional knowledge of the people in tribal areas.
The focus of KSHAMTA is to convene programmes on nutritionally enriching foods and to give scientific interventions on agricultural and allied sectors like livestock and fisheries.
KVK West Garo Hills adopted Nengjabolchugre village under Gambegre block in West Garo Hills under KSHAMTA in 2020 and implemented different technologies like poultry farming, duck farming, vegetable production, mushroom production and vermicomposting to ensure nutritional security as well as income generation for the farmers in the village.
This year, KVK adopted another village called ‘Amakgre’, which is adjacent to Nengjabolchugre village under the same programme.
To demonstrate ‘poultry farming with improved variety’ at farmers’ field under KSHAMTA in 2024, KVK selected 20 beneficiaries (10 from each village) from the both villages and conducted the 3 days’ training programme for newly selected beneficiaries to enhance their knowledge and capacity.
The training-cum-input distribution programme was inaugurated by Dr Serenebell W Momin, District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary officer of West Garo Hills, who was the chief guest of the inaugural programme held at the training hall of KVK, Sangsanggre, on Wednesday. She emphasised on rearing of improved poultry varieties to get more egg and meat production to cope with protein deficiency.
She also delivered a lecture on ‘Different schemes and programmes implemented by state department for livestock farmers’.
All the technical sessions were taken by Dr Sagarika Borah, STO, KVK, during the three-day period. Field visits were done on Thursday at existing beneficiaries’ field in Nengjabolchugre village itself and participants were shown Kuroiler poultry, Khaki Campbell ducks and Azolla.
Dr Cartina K Sangma, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary officer, Gambegre Block, was present as the special guest during the field visit programme.
Two hundred Kuroiler chicks, feeds, medicines were distributed among the participants on Friday at Poultry Farm, Rongkhon, West Garo Hills.