The numerous disease outbreaks, high cost of cultivation, huge requirement of feed inputs and currently, a fall in price due to COVID-19 Pandemic are some of the challenges being faced in shrimp culture by the farmers of the Coastal Region. A progressive farmer, Smt. Anita Mathew Vallikkappen and her husband, Shri Mathew Vallikkappen from Bicholim had developed a Sustainable Integrated Farming System (IFS) Model (Blue Harvest Farm) at Salem, Goa in an area of 1.8 ha for higher production, income, resource cycling and employment with technical inputs from the scientists of ICAR-Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Old Goa. The fishery, piggery, poultry, fruit crops, vegetables, vermi-compost and biogas were among the components of the system. During the prevalence of COVID-19, the Institute guided the farmer in developing the IFS, which is more profitable, sustainable and resource efficient. The scientists provided the technical guidance on poly-culture of highly...

As the Kharif season is approaching and the second wave of COVID 19 posing serious challenges, ICAR has prepared agro-advisory for farmers for the kharif season. The document covers best agricultural practices for enhancing farm production and income, while ensuring optimum use of resources by the farmers of 28 states and 8 UTs covering major crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries. The advisories are also available in various regional languages.   ICAR Karif Agro-Advisory for Farmers

To support the livelihoods of the wetland-dependent community of Beledanga Beel, the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata initiated an “Ecosystem-based Wetland Management Programme” under the ICAR W3 Project and the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan. The Beledanga Beel is an Oxbow Lake managed by the Beledanga Barrackpore Fishermen’ Cooperative Society Ltd. since 1958. Being Horseshoe-Shaped with an area of 62 ha in monsoon, the Beel is Eutrophic in nature and highly infested with macrophytes. Keeping the scenario in mind, the ICAR-CIFRI commenced a participatory demonstration of Pen Culture Technology. The main objective was production enhancement in the Beel for supporting the livelihood of the fishermen of Beledanga Beel.     For enhancing the fish production and supporting the socio-economic conditions of the adjoining villages, the Institute adopted the Beledanga Beel in 2019. After collecting the baseline data and...

Guinea Fowl also known as “Titari” and “Chitra”, the low input alternate poultry species domesticated for egg and meat are adapted to varied Indian agro-climatic conditions and most appropriate for backyard poultry production. Being rich in vitamins and low in cholesterol, the Guinea Fowl Meat is valued by consumers for taste and nutritional value. The birds are eco-friendly and helpful in worm, pest and insect control and provide manure for the field and are seasonal layers with average egg production of 90 to 110 eggs from March to September. The seasonality of reproduction / egg production is, therefore, a major problem limiting its egg production and hindering the large-scale commercial production of Guinea Fowl.   The ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh conducted 4 experimental trials during the winter months (November to February) from 2016 to 2021 to break the seasonality in reproduction in Pearl variety of Guinea Fowl. The aim...

The growing demand for sheep meat coupled with attractive price for live-weight cost of Rs. 300 to Rs. 350/kg in the urban and peri-urban areas in metros and large towns is attracting many farmers to adopt intensive feeding of sheep with better breeds.   The lack of nutrition in the early phase of growth in lambs reduces the immunity and increases the susceptibility to diseases resulting in lower body weight gains and high mortality. It is mainly due to low plane of nutrition as the breeds of sheep have very limited ability to produce sufficient milk for promoting optimum growth in lambs. One of the major concerns is the lower body weight gain in lambs during the pre-weaning phase (90 - 100 days). The technological intervention of supplementary feeding through Milk Replacer containing highly digestible quality ingredients can address the issue. The supplement is designed for the growth and development of young nursing animals.   A number of...