As Nagaland continues to depend heavily on imported poultry products despite growing local demand, Nagaland University has taken a step towards strengthening the state’s production capacity by training aspiring poultry farmers and entrepreneurs in modern poultry production practices through a five day hands on training on Poultry Production Technology, organised by the Farmers’ Cell of the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus. The training, which began on June 1, concluded today.
Speaking at the valedictory programme, Dr Mary N Odyuo, Associate Professor and In-charge of the Farmers’ Cell said, “The five-day Hands-on Training on Poultry Production Technology was organised to equip farmers, youth, and aspiring entrepreneurs with scientific knowledge and practical skills in poultry production, enabling them to pursue poultry farming as a sustainable livelihood and enterprise in Nagaland.”
She noted that despite the growing demand for poultry products in Nagaland, farmers and entrepreneurs often face challenges such as limited access to technical knowledge, disease management practices, inadequate housing and feeding systems and lack of exposure to modern poultry production technologies and so the training sought to bridge these gaps.
Prof Catherine Rutsa, Head, Department of Livestock Production and Management stressed on the importance of conducting skill development and capacity-building programmes for youth, particularly in the livestock and poultry sectors. Expressing hope on the five day training programme, she said, “This program has equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills, noting their enthusiasm and proactive engagement throughout the sessions. Of the 12 participants, some were already involved in poultry farming, and the others would venture into the sector and apply the knowledge gained during the training.”
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Congratulating the Farmers’ Cell for organising the training programme, Prof Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor, NU Medziphema Campus said, “Nagaland has a high demand for meat and animal based products but the state still heavily depends on import from others. Such training initiatives could play a crucial role in enhancing local production and strengthening self-sufficiency in the livestock sector. Future training programmes should be designed separately for experienced farmers and beginners to better address their specific needs.”
Prof Sinha suggested including financial institutions in such programmes to create awareness about credit facilities and loan schemes available to aspiring entrepreneurs and proposed the establishment of a community radio platform or similar communication mechanism through which experts could directly engage with farmers, address their queries, and disseminate timely information to support agricultural and livestock development.
Participants during the valedictory programme shared their experiences on the value of hands-on learning in understanding modern poultry management practices. They described it to be a good learning experience and increased their knowledge on the current practices in poultry farming. Many expressed a desire to use the techniques they learned, share the knowledge with others in their communities and explore poultry farming as a means of making a living and starting a business.
The five-day Hands-on Training on Poultry Production Technology was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Production and Management, bringing together 12 participants from different parts of the State for intensive practical sessions on poultry housing, brooding and chick management, feeding practices, disease prevention, vaccination, record keeping, and enterprise management.
