N & M Andaman, Jan 25: To give much needed impetus on diversification in agriculture, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, N & M Andaman organised programme on “Backyard Pig Farming for Livelihood security” at Profullyanagar, Gram Panchayat Basantipur w.e.f. 21.01.19 to 23.01.19. Dr. D. Bhattacharya, Principal scientist and Head, Animal Science Division; Dr. Jai Sunder, Principal scientist, ASD, ICAR-CIARI; Dr. Arun De, Scientist, ASD, ICAR-CIARI; Dr. B. L. Kasinath, Senior Scientist & Head/ Course Director, KVK, N & M Andaman and others KVK staff were present on the occasion. In the three days programme, Dr. Shardul Vikram Lal, SMS (Animal science)/ course coordinator discussed scientific care and management of pigs and demonstrated the preparation of low cost pig feed and technology for azolla cultivation. He emphasised the need to incorporate mineral mixture in the ration of pig. In the sideline of this training programme, field day on supplementation of chelated mineral mixture and ceremony for distribution of breeding buck under All India coordination research project for improvement of local goat (P.I.- Dr. Jai Sunder) were also performed for the benefit of farmers. In field day on supplementation of mineral mixture, the feedbacks of farmers after supplementation of chelated mineral mixture were positive. The farmers informed that after supplementation of chelated mineral mixture (Bestmin forte gold) @ 35gm/ day, they observed increase in milk yield to the tune of 10-15 percent and improved milk quality. In a separate programme on distribution of local breeding bucks, a total of eleven breeding buck were distributed to the farmers in villages of four different panchayats namely Basantipur, Harinagar, Shivpuram, and Swadeshnagar as per the recommendation of Pradhan. A total of thirty five farmers participated in these programmes. This programme was conducted under the supervision and guidance of Dr. B. L. Kashinath, Senior scientist and Head, ICAR-KVK and Dr. A. Kundu, Director, ICAR-CIARI, as said in a press release by Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, N & M Andaman.
