Ludhiana, July 17
The second annual convention of the North India Poultry Farmers Association was organised at Punjab Agricultural University here today.
Addressing poultry farmers of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Kirpal Singh Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, said scientific poultry farming could go a long way in bringing about the necessary changes in agriculture in the context of the current economic, ecological and social scenario.
He said there is a great scope for the expansion of poultry sector because at the present level of production, the per capita annual availability of eggs in our country was around 35 compared to 100 in China. The consumption of poultry products, including meat and eggs, could help in providing balanced nutrition to our population, the large section of which is not only undernourished but also malnourished.
Dr Aulakh further called for a change in the mental make-up of our people, who need to be educated that
unfertilised eggs were vegetarian and an animal product just like milk. He also said that there was need for improving the quality of poultry feed. He suggested the farmers to organise themselves in the form of a cooperative to mix their own feed and provide it to their members instead of depending on private sector.
Dr Aulakh appreciated the association for becoming a decisive force in demanding the rates of eggs rather than merely accepting the rates given by traders. He said that other farmers should learn from this initiative of the poultry farmers. Dr Aulakh assured the poultry farmers that he would discuss their problems with the Chief Minister of Punjab. He also offered all technical guidance from the PAU scientists to the poultry farmers.
Dr Sarjit Singh Gill, Additional Director, Extension Education, Communication Centre, PAU, apprised the poultry farmers of different books and magazines published by the university for the farmers. He made a special mention of books on poultry farming, animal husbandry practices and veterinary guide. He also appealed to the farmers to become life members of PAU magazine ‘Changi Kheti.’
Mr Parampal Singh Gill, convenor of the North India Poultry Farmers Association, spoke about various problems being faced by poultry farmers. Apart from poultry scientists of the PAU, Dr Rajvir Singh, Director, IVRI, Izat Nagar (UP), Dr Ramsubba Reddy from Andhra Pradesh University and Dr Mujib Akhtar, poultry scientist from Hyderabad, also addressed the farmers.
