It was also noticed that quite a number of new technologies has been developed in this field, but they have not reached the target audiences-the villagers. In a bid to spread this message to the villagers, the Directorate of Research, Extension & Farms organised a three-day seminar of the agricultural journalists on the role of farms journals in technology transfer for increasing animal productivity.

Anisur Rahman, state minister for animal husbandry in his inaugural address noted that the state suffers from shortages of milk, meat and eggs. Huge quantities of these items are brought in from other states. From this the existing opportunity is quite evident and the farmers will only have to tap it properly, headded.

"There is tremendous scope for development but the involvement of the people is necessary and they can be involved if the right information is dished out to them," Rahman said.

He noted that the development of rural economy is largely dependent on this sector. "With the population increasing day-by-day, unemployment has become a major problem in the villages. Despite land reforms quite a large section of the rural population still remain unemployed. Animal husbandry can provide a good employment to all," the minister added.

So long animal husbandry in West Bengal was considered to be one of the major activities for providing subsidiary income to the rural farming families. However, due to its tremendous potential this sector is slowly opening up.

The idea of keeping livestock merely as domestic animals is giving way to more commercial-oriented activities. Moreover, development of this sector is considered very important as a sources of essential nutrition. The sector has a short gestationperiod and involves less capital investment.

The West Bengal government is constantly encouraging efforts for breed-upgradation through artificial insemination in cattle and improved breeding material like cocks, drakes, bores, rams and bucks. Even supplies of improved livestock and birds are also arranged.

In 1997-98, there were about 2,878 artificial insemination centres in the state including a good number of centres using liquid semen. Arrangements has been made to set up at least one artificial insemination centre in each gram panchayats.

The state government is gradually converting the existing livestock farms into composite ones for supply of inputs for breed upgradation and also for demonstration and training. For the purpose, different units for poultry, duck, sheep, goat, rabbit and pigs are being added to existing farms where ever possible.

At present, there are 11 cattle farms, eight sheep and goat farms, nine rabbit farms, 11 duck farms and 21 poultry or broiler farms in the state. Thesecentres encourage the activities in the livestock sector.

While discussing on composite farming during the three-day seminar it was also discussed that animal wastes too have a great economic value. Chinese regard a pig as a costless fertiliser factory.

A single pig generates sufficient manure which can be used as fertiliser and increase the grain production by 100 to 150 kg. It has been estimated that the fertiliser value, in a year, from the manure of 20 to 30 swines would be equal to one tonne of ammonium sulphate.