Proceedings of Special Meeting of Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences Universities

Final Recommendations

Agenda points for Special Meeting of Veterinary, Animal and Fishery Sciences Universities at College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Selesih, Aizawl (Mizoram) on 13 March 2006

1. IVRI, Izatnagar

1. Establishment of Central Laboratory in veterinary colleges demonstrate practicals onPCR, ELISA, Gel doc system etc.

2. There is an acute deficiency of library in veterinary colleges in the context that veterinary colleges have been a part of SAU and as such there is more focus on Central Library. A library should be established in each veterinary college with latest journals, periodicals etc. on all subjects and disciplines.

3. Integration of the subject of extension with veterinary colleges to enable the student to spend more time on other current subjects like WTO, IPR Literacy, GMP, GLP, OIE, sanitary andphyto- sanitary agreements etc.

4. Facilities of infrastructure for ambulatory clinic and polyclinic in veterinary colleges.

5. Provision of live demonstration units for poultry-keeping, goat, sheep or pig keeping in each veterinary college, besides a unit of horses (15) for teaching and riding.

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2. NDr.I, Karnal

1. Uniformity in examination system, grading system, award of pass percentage and division, academic calendar and evaluation of M.S. dissertation and Ph.D. thesis.

2. Establishment National academic calendar

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3. WBUAFS, Kolkata

1. Animal and Fishery Science

1. Establishment of Distance Education Centre

2. Establishment of Central Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

3. Establishment of Quality Control Laboratory for safe food production of animal origin.

4. Upgradation of instructional facilities and recruitment of staff in Fisheries colleges

5. Encourage teachers to engage in research and extension activities

6. Establishment of linkages between the colleges electronically and improving the library facilities

7. Creation of a regular platform for all the Fisheries colleges

2. Dairy Technology

1. Faculty Exchange Programme

2. Establishment of Central Instrumentation Laboratory

3. Installation of Produce-Processing Equipment at Student Dairy Plant

4. Establishment of Quality Assurance Laboratory in Faculty of Dairy Technology

5. Establishment of Regional Microbial Collection Centre in Faculty of Dairy Technology

6. Establishment of Training Facility

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4. MAFSU, Nagpur

1. Education infrastructure

2. Internship Allowance

3. Livestock Research Farms

4. ICAR Assistance under Development funds to universities

5. To restart funding of research scheme under Cess funds

6. To increase the number of scholarship for post-graduate students in veterinary, fisheries and dairy technology.

5.  CCSHAU, Hisar

1. Charging of heavy fee by NAARM from the participants of SAUs for training purposes.

Proceedings of the 'Special Meeting of Animal, Veterinary and Fisheries universities or institutes', held at College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Selesih, Aizawl (Mizoram) on 13 March 2006 (for approval)

Present: 1. Dr.A.T. Sherikar, Vice-Chancellor, MAFSU, Nagpur
            2. Prof. R.N. Sreenivas Gowda, Vice-Chancellor, KVAFSU, Bidar
            3. Dr. Sushil Kumar, Director, NDr.I, Karnal
            4. Dr. A . K . Bandopadhyay, Vice-Chancellor, WBUAFS, Kolkata
            5. Dr. Dharmeswar Das, Joint Director, I V R I , Izatnagar
            6. Prof (Dr.) Biman Malakar, Dean, WBUAFS, Mohanpur Campus
            7. Dr. S.S. Magar, President IAUA & Vice-Chancellor, DBSKKV, Dapoli
            8. Dr. S.N. Puri, ex-President IAUA & Vice-Chancellor, CAU, Imphal
            9. Dr. C.R. Hazra, Member (NE) IAUA & Vice-Chancellor, I G K W , Raipur
           10. Dr. G.R. Singh, Dean College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Selesih (Mizoram)
           11. Dr. R.P. Singh, Executive Secretary, IAUA

At the outset, Dr. S.N. Puri, the host, thanked all the participating Vice-Chancellors, Directors, Joint Directors and Deans, representing their universities, institutes etc. He also clarified about the genesis of the meeting, a point raised by Prof. Sreenivas Gowda at the time of Brain Storming Session on 'Distance Education' held at Banglore during 17-18 August 2005 that the problems of the Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences Universities are different from those of the agricultural universities. Dr. Puri, the then President, IAUA assured that a special meeting would be organized as soon as possible in the north-east, which would also require suggestions on the development of animal resources. Then Dr. S. S. Magar took over the charge of the meeting.

Dr. Magar also thanked all the participants and briefed them about the history and achievements of IAUA, including the efforts about the meeting of IAUA Executive Committee with Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission in 2003 and also with the latest VCs' Conference organized by the ICAR at Pantnagar. Supporting the issues related to animal husbanDr.y and fisheries that could alsoform a part of the regional meetings for greater care of the health of animals and new breeds, to lay emphasis on seed and hatcheries and also on different components of animal sciences, with involvement of ICAR authorities. Focus would be laid on presenting the problems of individual university through IAUA. As the problems of grass-root workers in animal sciences and fisheries are altogether different, these should be known through the participation of the farmers involving the common man along with the top level scientists, administrators and workers in the planning.

The issues are to be dealt with completely in farming systems approach, by giving due consideration to each component. He said that in such special meetings along with the VCs, the directors of research, deans and directors of extension should also be allowed to participate, to learn. However, he emphasized that that media must not be involved much, to avoid exaggeration as was observed in their reports on bird flu, which considerably damaged the poultry industry. He also promised that IAUA would also help create harmony in the institutes and universities, in view of the point raised in the recent news that appeared about NDr.I, Karnal. The IAUA must involve or invite ex-EC members and IAUA Ex-VCs for their continuing support.

Before the start of special meeting, Dr. Gajraj Singh, Dean, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Selesih gave a brief glimpse of history, functioning and achievements till date of the college. He pointed out good scope of animal production in view of its great demand in the region, especially Mizoram, owing to the food habits of the population who are rice and meat eaters. Attention is also needed on animal health, as diseases are encountered from across the borders, for which very effective and efficient surveillance is to be enforced. Dog meat is very popular in Mizoram, and is supposed to be a delicacy. He gave a mention of CAU, Imphal, which since its establishment in 1992 has proved effective (from 25 January 1993) for production of adequate food and its proper dissemination to help protect public and animal health

Dr Magar, President IAUA, enumerated the ideas that IAUA would take up for Veterinary Sciences with the following recommendation:

1. Filling up the vacancies by recommending lifting of ban.

2. To support the point on development of suitable infrastructure and facilities and also the promotion of agricultural land and suitable machineries.

3. To support the point on establishment of new veterinary universities as per the demand of the area in different states.

4. To develop a mechanism for linkages in veterinary universities.

5. To support highlighting of excellent achievements by sharing manuals and library facilities.
   Dr Magar and Dr Puri requested all the members to present their agenda items.

Prof. Sreenivas Gowda, taking the floor first, thanked them for providing the opportunity and raised the following points:

1. There should be similarity in course curricula in veterinary universities and colleges. To avo i d overlapping in course contents, a change for improvement is required every 5 years.

2. It is felt that Veterinary Council of India Committee do not take cognizance of the national and international changing scenario. The students are therefore to be equipped for preparing the future technology to suit the market demand.

3. Agricultural universities should support the veterinary colleges, as the ICAR funding is inadequate.

4. During drought conditions, it is dairy industry that comes to the rescue of the farmers, and deserves better attention.

5. The veterinary extension services are very poor so far, I and need more and updated improvement.

6. Some KVKs in the domain of veterinary and animal sciences universities should be transferred to veterinary universities as per the need of the areas or farmers for better contribution.

7. For fisheries universities, the money has been given for infrastructure development but not for the purchase of the fish and the seed.

8. The universities must provide funds for the ladies training hostels.
   Dr Puri pointed out that the ICAR is keeping:

   (i) The ICAR is keeping Supply of seed for fisheries on priority. However, this requirement can form apart of the recommendation.
   (ii) We also support the idea to open extra KVKs as per the demand of the areas where veterinary universities are in existence

Dr Sushil Kumar mentioned the progress made by NDRI through Green Revolution by improved production of crops and their management. However, second Green Revolution is needed with the combination of agriculture, animal husbandry, veterinary and fisheries sciences etc.

He made the following points:

1. The comprehensive farming-system components, especially of dairy and fisheries, has increased the income of the farmers and is inseparable and essential as per the location and situation in different states.

2. The yield in crops, is not increasing much to match the efforts and expectation, and natural resources have been exploited to the extent possible, which provides ample scope to lay more emphasis on value addition in animal, veterinary and fisheries sciences and sea-food industry etc. to provide adequate and nutritive food.

3. To add to the development of animal sciences programme, it is necessary to supplement the feed and fodder for the livestock. For this we have to develop grain and fodder varieties of dual purpose to have quality feed and high fodder production.

4. For efficient livestock production, vigorous efforts are needed for utilization of crop residues at the farmers and village level, as is being done in China. 5. Under adverse disaster situation of drought, floods etc., the animal to suffer as much as the crops and human beings. Each of these requires similar attention.

5. Collective approach for breeding of animals is needed, for which their physiology package should reach the small farmers.

Dr Dharmeswar Das raised the following points:

1. There has to be an integrated approach of the universities/State Development Departments/ICAR scientists with participation of farmers and stakeholders for developing need based and cost-effective technologies.

2. There should be a strong channel for exchanging innovative ideas and technologies amongst the veterinary and agricultural universities.

3. Regular revision of course curricula with introduction of newer, advanced and need-based tracking courses as required to equip the graduates with skill and competence to meet international standards.

4. Veterinary graduates should be trained for production system as a whole, to effectively cater to the needs of the farming community and to develop entrepreneurship.

5. Training and placement cells of the colleges should be strengthened with computer, internet, database facilities for regular and proper placement of the graduates.

6. There should be a separate development grant from the ICAR to the veterinary colleges and niversities, as some of their requirements are different from those of the agricultural universities.

7. The ICAR should provide funds for establishment of demonstration units of mixed farming system in the veterinary and agricultural colleges as per requirement of the area or state for hands-on-training to the students and demonstration to the farmers.

8. There should be separate fund provision from the ICAR for ambulatory clinics for the staff and students of the veterinary colleges for field requirement.

Dr Sherikar raised the following points:

• Agriculture and animal husbandry is an inseparable system, hence grant to the universities should be sufficient to cater to the whole sum requirement for the dimension of the areas.

• The animals are most helpful to supplement the income of the farmers and to rescue them in adverse conditions.

• So far the dairy and fisheries industry has been neglected because of greater emphasis laid on crop production during the setting of Green Revolution. Since then as the yields are plateauing, Second Green Revolution can be achieved by giving similar emphasis primarily to animal and dairy and fisheries industries and other farming system components like sea-food industry, sericulture, floriculture etc and value addition in all the components of farming systems.

• We also need to pay attention to the production and efficiency of buffalo, which in India represent 70% of world buffalo population.

• Suitable internship or scholarship to veterinary graduates should also be given, as being paid to other interns. However, he would submit a note to IAUA on the internship money (allowance) for the veterinary graduates.

Dr A.K. Bandopadhyay supported these points with reference to his university as well as West Bengal. He also cited the problem of flow of animals from West Bengal to Bangladesh and vice-versa, which might create unknown disease problems on which strict vigilance is needed. On this issue, a number of clinics or KVKs should be opened at the sensitive spots around the boundary areas.

There is ample scope of dairy and fisheries industries in West Bengal, as the agriculture system is dominated by rice during rainy (kharif) season and much of the land during winter (rabi) season is fallow, which is being used as pastures for the animals.

Dr C.R. Hazra, pointed out that no separate funds are coming forth for the veterinary and dairy technology colleges and funds from the common University Grants are being utilized, which is not enough for the research and development of the veterinary or animal sciences universities or colleges. Dr Puri suggested that veterinary universities should be treated on par with the new agricultural universities coming up now a days. Dr Sreenivas Gowda pointed out that there are no co-ordinated projects in the veterinary sciences, animal sciences and fisheries sciences to focus individual discipline unlike that being done for different crops in the agricultural sector. Dr. Sherikar emphasized that veterinary colleges under the main university should be treated as important as agriculture for funds provision concerning the number of scholarships should also be increased as per number of the admissions in different universities and as per the current demand of the university. Dr Bandopadhyay raised a point that there should be some flexibility on the diversion of funds as per the immediate and essential need, and that training allowance should be given to all the students.

Dr Puri remarked that though ICAR is already giving the repair and maintenances grants, more grants are needed for the student welfare. There is also need for catch-up grant to start again for the repair and maintenances of the old buildings.

Prof. Sreenivas Gowda demanded that a project like Vidya dairy be started and funded separately as per the demand of the veterinary universities or veterinary colleges for greater milk production in all the states in India. Project on Meat and fish technology might also be started similar to that of Vidya dairy, depending on the situation. Special grant is needed for the girls' hostel. The scale of grant for allotment of funds should be increased as per the increased costs of resources and inputs nowadays and that 15% of the allotment grant should be at the discretion of the VC for spending on the emergent needs (except salary). He expressed that the sustainability in dairy technology will be a most difficult job in future in comparison with the sustainability in crop production.

In the end, Dr Puri gave following information:

• VCI has already provided the code of working for animals and human health, which should be applied and treated at par.

• There should be no ban on filling of the posts arising out of the new programmes.

• There should be a basic degree in the non-veterinary departments to support the programmes.

• There should be strong collaboration from the ICAR and state line departments with the local universities, as nowadays there are no extension workers from veterinary departments at the university level.

Finally Dr Magar, Chairman of the Meeting, concluded that in veterinary, animal husbandry and fisheries sciences, the education and research work are comparatively satisfactory. However, greater emphasis is needed on extension work, which is very weak and slow at present. He also asked for greater emphasis on ways and means to reach the farmers for redressing their problems.

He profusely thanked all the participants for their very active participation and contribution during the course of discussion and also placed on record the excellent arrangements made at the Meeting, efficiently hosted by Dr Puri and his colleague Dr Gajraj Singh.

Prof. Sreenivas Gowda, on behalf of the participants, thanked Dr S. N. Puri and his team for keeping all the participants with very good arrangements and he also requested that there should be strong follow up ofthe recommendations of this meeting and later on the progress should be discussed in such like other meeting in due course of time.

Concluding the meeting, Dr. S.N. Puri thanked Dr Magar, for conducting the proceedings ofthe meeting with great efficiency and profusely thanked all the participants for their active participation.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The problems and requirements of Animal, Veterinary and Fisheries Sciences are different from those of crop sciences. These could be best known by working through the participation of farmers while planning for developmental programmes. (ICAR/SAUs/SG)

2. Each farmer should be considered as a unit of farming system practitioner, and each component adding to his income from livestock should receive due consideration. (ICAR/SAUs/SG)

3. Media should be involved to highlight the gains and achievements, but must not be allowed to indulge in propaganda as was done by them for bird flu, which caused considerable damage to poultry industry. (SAUs/SG)

4. The porous borders of the country towards north-east are more vulnerable to the risk of animal health, as the diseases are transmitted from across the border, for which very effective check and surveillance is to be enforced. (GOI, ICAR/SAUs/GS)

5. The ban on filling up of the vacancies lying vacant in veterinary, animal husbandry and fisheries universities or colleges should be lifted and also there should not be any ban on filling up ofthe vacancies arising out ofthe new programmes. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

6. Establishment of new veterinary universities should be supported as per the demand ofthe area for realizing maximum productivity, production and profitability inherent in livestock sector. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

7. Some mechanism is to be developed to have working linkages in veterinary universities. This may prove to be cost effective. (S AUs)

8. The veterinary universities should highlight their achievements by sharing manuals and library facilities. (SAUs)

9. Course curricula should be uniform in veterinary universities and veterinary colleges. It should avoid overlapping and should be updated every 5 years for improvement, to take cognigence of national and international scenario. (SAUs)

10. The veterinary colleges in agricultural universities should be given priority out ofthe funds received from ICAR as per the demand ofthe area and problems. (SAU)

11. For fisheries and veterinary universities, special funds should be allocated for the purchase of animals, poultry, fishes, semen and seeds, over and above the infrastructure-development grant. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

12. In the areas prone to climatic hazards like drought and floods, where large-scale damage of crops occurs, the animal husbandry, fisheries and other components ofthe farming systems must receive priority for allotment of funds for their promotion and development. (GOI/ICAR/GS)

13. Some KVKs in the domain ofthe veterinary universities, should be transferred to veterinary university or permission be accorded to start new Livestock Vigyana Kendras (LVK) for discernible and effective contributions. (GOI/ICAR/SAUs/GS)

14. For veterinary universities also, separate funds should be provided for ladies training and working-women hostels. (GOI/ICAR/GS)

15. There should be effective channel for exchange of ideas and technologies between the veterinary and agricultural universities for guidance on cost-effective procedures to the farmers. (SAUs)

16. The ICAR should fund the mixed farming units as per the requirement ofthe areas where the daiy, poultry, Fisheries, horticulture, vegetable and flower cultivation etc. are the essential components with the farmers along with crop production. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

17. To achieve evergreen revolution, greater emphasis is needed on veterinary, animals science, dairy, fisheries, sea-food and sericulture etc. along with the value addition in all the components of the farming system in a way similar to that laid on crop-production programmes during the setting of Green Revolution. Over exploitation of natural resources due to intensive cropping needs to be compensated through organic farming for which livestock poultry and fisheries have to play significant role. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

18. Veterinary graduates should be trained for the whole production system to effectively cater to the needs ofthe farming community. (SAUs)

19. There should be separate funds for ambulatory clinics for going to the rural areas to cater to the need ofthe seriously ill animals which cannot go to the cities, universities or state-run clinic centres (GOI/ICAR/SG)

20. The buffalo production and its efficiency need to be taken up on very high priority, as India has 70% ofthe world buffalo population and it contributes 57% of milk produced in India, besides draught power and meat. (GOI/ICAR/SG/SAU)

21. Suitable internship or scholarship should be paid to the veterinary graduates similar to that paid to other interim. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

22. Special clinics or KVKs are needed to have strict vigilance on the sensitive spots at the Indian boundary touching other countries. (GOI/ICAR/SG/SAUs)

23. In some parts of north-east and West Bengal, the agriculture system is dominated by rice in kharif and during rabi much of the land remains fallow, which can be very effectively utilized as pastures for dairy industry and water pounds for fishery enterprises. (GOI/SG/SAU)

24. The veterinary universities should be treated on a par with the new agricultural universities for funding by the ICAR. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

25. There should be provision of developing co-ordinated projects or network programmes on major components of veterinary, animal and fisheries sciences, as is being done for different crops in agricultural sector. (GOI/ICAR)

26. The Number of scholarship should be increased corresponding to the number of admissions in different universities as per the demand. (ICAR/SG)



27. There should be flexibility in diversion of 15% fund (except salary) for immediate and essential needs.(ICAR/SG)

28. The ICAR should restart the provision of catch-up grant for the repair and maintenance of old buildings. (ICAR)

29. The Vidya dairy project should be started and funded separately as per the demand of the veterinary universities or colleges to ensure more milk production in all the states. (GOI/ICAR)

30. Special projects On meat and IlSh technology Should be allowed to start on the same grounds as Vidya dairy according to the demand and situations of the areas in the states. (GOI/ICAR/SG)

31. The Scale of grants for allotment of funds should be increased as per the increased cost of resources and inputs now a days. (ICAR/SG)

32. The extension workers from the veterinary departments at the university level should have strong support or collaboration from SAUs and state-line departments for effective working. (SAUs/SG)

33. Adequate fund needs to be granted for Research and Development in diagnosis and identification of emerging and re-emerging animal diseases.

34. Veterinarian teachers in SAUs should be given Non-Practicing Allowance, as existing in ICAR and Central Government Institutions.

35. The ICAR should support teaching and research programmes on health and care of pet and wild animals, food safely, bio-safety, bio-diversity, ecosystem etc.

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