Conclave on the Development of Dairy, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives in Assam concludes successfully
Guwahati,Rongili Barta: The two-day conclave on Development of Dairy, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives in Assam, organised under the leadership of the Assam Governor Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya, concluded on Tuesday at the Assam Administrative Staff College, Guwahati. The conclave served as a comprehensive platform for experts, policymakers, academicians, and practitioners to exchange ideas and deliberate on innovative strategies to strengthen the dairy, livestock, and cooperative sectors in the state.
The second day of the conclave witnessed a series of thematic sessions and a lead lecture that focused on advancing dairy technology, improving livestock management, and promoting sustainable poultry development. The session on Dairy Technology, Processing and Start-ups underscored the importance of clean milk production, value addition, automation, and cold chain management, which was conducted by Prof. Dinesh Chandra Rai, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
Participants highlighted the need to modernize dairy infrastructure and strengthen the start-up ecosystem to create new opportunities for rural youth and women entrepreneurs. Discussions also emphasized the critical role of financing models from NABARD and MSME in enabling sustainable dairy-based entrepreneurship.
A lead lecture on the “Status of Livestock Sector in Assam” was delivered by Dr. Jayanta Kumar Goswami, Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Assam, who provided an insightful overview of the sector’s current landscape, its challenges, and emerging opportunities. He highlighted that livestock and allied activities play a vital role in enhancing rural livelihoods, ensuring nutritional security, and empowering women, particularly among smallholder and marginal farmers.
Further deliberations in the session on Livestock Development focused on cluster-based pig production, breed improvement, and scientific feed management as key tools to enhance productivity and profitability. The session was conducted by Dr. N. H. Mohan, Director, ICAR–National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, New Delhi along with other panelists. The speakers stressed on the importance of bio-security measures and hygienic meat processing systems to promote viable and safe piggery ventures in the state. The potential of the piggery sector as a major contributor to rural income and nutrition security was strongly advocated.
The session on Small Ruminants’ Development discussed breed improvement, fodder innovation, and disease management strategies suitable for Assam’s diverse agro-climatic conditions, which was conducted by Dr. Arpana Das, Professor, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara. Experts emphasized the need to adopt scientific breeding and sustainable fodder systems to increase the productivity of goat and sheep farming in rural areas. The final technical session on Poultry Development addressed issues related to backyard and commercial poultry farming, feed efficiency, hatchery management, and bio-security. It also highlighted the need to strengthen local poultry breeds, improve market linkages, and expand cold chain infrastructure to ensure profitability and sustainability in the sector.
The conclave concluded with a valedictory session attended by senior officials, experts, and stakeholders. Prof. Bechan Lal, OSD to the Governor of Assam, presented a comprehensive report summarizing the deliberations and key recommendations from the two-day event. Narayan Konwar, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Assam, underlined the role of cooperative frameworks in promoting rural entrepreneurship and skill development.
A progressive farmer also shared feedback, appreciating the conclave’s focus on knowledge sharing and practical insights that would benefit the farming community. The conclave concluded with a shared commitment to build a self-reliant, technology-driven, and inclusive livestock sector in Assam.
Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Government of Assam, M.S. Manivannan, scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers along with a host other dignitaries were present at the event.