ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar organised a 10-day training programme (Jan31 – Feb9, 2017) on ‘Buffalo production using reproductive biotechnology’ for delegates from ASEAN countries. The program was sponsored by the ASEAN-India Joint Cooperation Fund. The training was attended by sixteen participants from 8 ASEAN member countries – two each from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. During this training the participants were acquainted with the modern biotechnology tools for use in livestock production systems especially buffaloes. Various topics and practicals were covered by experts from CIRB and leading outside institutes.
The program included ways to improve artificial inseminations and breeding programs, embryo technologies, ‘omics’ sciences (genomics, proteomics and metabolomics) for bio-marker discovery and germplasm conservation and propagation through semen technologies, cloning, stem cells and related techniques. The training was formally inaugurated by Dr AK Srivastava, H’ble Member, Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board, New Delhi. He highlighted the importance of buffaloes in the country and enlightened how India progressed in milk and meat production using the biotechnological tools. He also mentioned about the historic ties of India with ASEAN countries and willingness of the Government of India and ICAR for betterment of livelihood through improved livestock farming in ASEAN region. Dr Rameshwar Singh, Director DKMA, ICAR deliberated on the dairy processing industry and the knowledge dissemination network established by ICAR for welfare of the farmers.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Director ICAR-CIRB and also course director for the training program expressed his satisfaction over the successful completion of the program. He stated that the primary objective of the training program was to impart training on enhancement of reproductive efficiency of superior male and female buffalo through application of reproductive biotechnological tools. During the training program, the participants also got a chance to visit ICAR-NDRI Karnal and private dairy (Lakshay Foods, Jind) enterprises – showcasing India’s growing strength in the area. The training also gave an exposure of the rich buffalo diversity of India through visits to the Murrah and Nilli Ravi herds at the two campuses of the Institute. The elite and beautifully decorated buffaloes at the annual function cum buffalo exhibition event on the 4th Feb., 2017 during the training program gave the participants glimpses of the progressive farmers in the country and rapport the Institute with farmers.
This is the second international training program successfully completed by the Institute during this financial year. Earlier seventeen animal science experts from 5 SAARC member countries were trained on various aspects of buffalo farming (22-28, August 2016).
Dr PS Yadav, Dr RK Sharma and Dr AK Balhara were coordinators for this training program.
