ICAR chief bets big on camel milk to boost farmers’ income in Rajasthan

Bikaner: KRISHIFEST-2018, agriculture fair was organized at ICAR-National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner jointly with ATMA, Bikaner.

Speaking on the occasion as a chief guest, Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR  emphasized that  camel milk and its value-added products have potential to improve the profit margins many folds and help farmers to double their income.

He urged NRCC to explore the possibility of trading camel milk outside India and prolific attempts be made to popularize the camel milk and its products through audacious publicity about its therapeutic value based on the scientific facts. While addressing the farmers he indicated that the farmers should interact with the scientific community freely to get possible solutions for their problems in arid agriculture situation.

The special guest of the function, Mr Arjun Ram Meghwal , Union Minister of State  of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Parliamentary Affairs inaugurated the facility of Camel Milk Ice Cream plant at the Centre. He urged the farmers to form Farmer Producer’s Organizations and find a market in metropolitan cities or see the possibility of exports.  He also suggested that NRCC might arrange the availability of products of camel milk in the parliamentary canteen in New Delhi that can be served during different advisory committee meetings held in various ministries, which will promote the use of Camel milk.

Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General (Animal Science) said value addition to agricultural and livestock production is crucial for ensuring profitability, therefore, institutes should make attempts to arrange training programmes for farmers to hone up their skills in Post Harvest Technology.

Dr N V Patil, Director, NRCC briefed the purpose of holding the agriculture fair and exhibition for transfer technologies to the farmers, promotion of best crops, horticultural system and livestock of various categories.

The interaction meetings of farmers held with scientific and technical experts of all disciplines of agriculture provided a common platform to encourage the farmers to adopt scientific practices to improve productivity and get more profits from agriculture and animal husbandry.

Sixty-five stalls of various institutes of ICAR, SAU, SVU, NGOs and private entrepreneurs exhibited their activities through demonstration, display of the products and technology. More than 2500 farmers from 7 blocks of Bikaner district including the farmers and livestock keepers from Indo-Pak border area participated in the event.

The event concluded with vote of thanks by Mr R K Nainawat, Project Director, ATMA, Bikaner.

The Directors and staff of various ICAR institutes located in Rajasthan and Haryana along with the officials of Rajasthan State Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, and ATMA participated in the fair.

(Source: ICAR-NRCC, Bikaner)