MIRZA, Dec 2 - The Napier grass can play a vital role in the State�s rural development,� said Ashok Kumar Barman, Secretary and Director, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, at the Regional Institute of Livestock Entrepreneurship and Management (RILEM), Rani, in the presence of members of NGO, local public and mediapersons here a few days back.
While interacting with the trainees of the Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRI) under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission on November 29, he emphasized that general public, in particular the unemployed youth and women, should come forward to take up trades like poultry, piggery, goatery and dairy farming as means of livelihood, which are easy to sustain with assured returns. In the post-COVID scenario, instead of going for jobs outside the State, they may engage themselves in such activities, he said.
�Napier grass cultivation is also an economically viable project. This grass is a very good fodder for cattle and can also be used as poultry feed. Elephants also like this grass and it can be planted in suitable areas to control man-elephant conflict, said Barman.
He said he will discuss this issue with forest officials and with the help of NGOs and local public, a large-scale plantation of the grass, which is also conducive to the climate of Assam, can be done in villages.
He appealed to the youth to come forward to take the benefit of the training programmes on poultry being conducted by the animal husbandry & veterinary department in various institutions.
RILEM Director Dr NN Mahanta, faculties of the institute Dr Utpal Bharadwaj and Dr Prasanta Rabha, VIO Dr Nandeswar Deka and Martin Rabha from Diya Foundation were also present in the meeting.
