In a bid to avoid a repetition of it, the Directorate of Research, Extension & Farms, under the West Bengal University for Animal & Fishery Sciences has convened a two-day seminar of agricultural journalists on the role of farm journals in technology transfer for increasing animal productivity.

The innovative move has already received an overwhelming response from different publications, who are focused mostly on rural economy, the assistant director (extension) of the directorate, Arunasish Goswami explained the backdrop of this seminar.

``After meeting a wide range of people, including farmers, fishermen and milkmen, in the villages of the West Bengal, we realised that thereis an information gap. Lots of new techniques and also government schemes are available, which these people are not aware of. So, the best way to inform them is by informing their representatives -- the journalists,'' Goswami told The Financial Express.

He also said that rearing of livestock may be an age-old tradition but it is strongly interlinked with the agricultural economy. The sector provides income, employment and nutritious diet to a large section of the population.The directorate has identified around 70 publications coming out in different districts of West Bengal. Most of these journals, Goswami said, are concentrating on the agricultural economy.

``Agriculture is certainly the backbone of our rural economy but there is a huge scope for animal husbandry too and it needs to be highlighted. During the two-day meet, we will try to inform the journalists of these publications about the importance of animal husbandry in the rural economy, the opportunities it hold and the technologicaladvances that are being made,'' Goswami said.

Director DN Jana of the directorate said that the five pillars of animal husbandry are feeding, breeding, management, health control and marketing.``The seminar has been scheduled in such a way that it will focus on all these five aspects. It will not be focussing on the scientific advancements made in the laboratories but will highlight its economic aspect when applied in the fields. Discussion will be held on the upgradation of dairy products through new technology, health hazards and composite and mixed farming,'' he said.

Summing up the intentions behind the meet, Jana added: ``We want the journalists to understand the new technologies and its impact on economy. Obviously, it will be then disseminated to our target groups.''

Government officials and members of the panchayats have also been invited to this meet. Goswami said that these people are the opinion makers of the village. ``You must also convince them,'' he said. The university has also taken anunique programme of helping the neo-literates of villages in setting up livestock farms like poultry, piggery, fishery and duck-farms and fisheries. The directorate is imparting the basic knowledge of running these units to the new literates and also help them to formulate economically viable schemes, which will enable them to qualify for financial aids from the banks and governmental sources. The directorate has already organised different training centres. A model village was identified by it in North 24 Parganas, where 20 people were selected as beneficiaries. They were trained to float a pig farm (piggery). A similar project was also carried out at the Sabang village of the Midnapore district. At Haringhata, a fish-cum-piggery farm was also established.

The West Bengal University of Animal & Fishery Sciences was established on January 2, 1995 by a legislative act of the West Bengal government. Prior to it, veterinary education in the state was imparted by the same institution in the name of BengalVeterinary College under the University of Calcutta, since 1893. In 1974, the college was merged with the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, another university engaged in the agricultural studies. The university offers two sets of integrated courses -- four years and five years -- for the undergraduates. In the five years' sections it has, bachelor of veterinary sciences and bachelor of animal husbandry. In the four years' integrated section, its offers B Tech for dairy technology and bachelor of fishery sciences.

It also offers two years postgraduate degrees -- masters of veterinary sciences and M Tech in dairy technology. Three years doctoral courses are also offered in dairy technology and veterinary sciences.