Bureau celebrated International Biodiversity Day and organized Farmers Interactive Meetings at Ladakh (UT)

ICAR-NBAGR celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity – 2023 on 22^nd May at Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh.  On this occasion about 100 delegates including scientists of the Bureau, Officers of Departments of Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Ladakh(UT), and livestock keepers were present. Dr B N Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, New Delhi was the Chief Guest of the Day. Sh. Ravinder Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Ladakh (UT) and Dr P K Rout, ADG (AP&B), ICAR also graced the occasion as Guests of Honor.

To promote the Ladakhi cattle, the Ladakhi Cattle Breed Society was initiated, and the society logo was released, befitting the theme of this year’s IDB ‘From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity’. MoU for the promotion of the Society was also signed between ICAR-NBAGR & AHD, Ladakh (UT). Further, 19 Ladakhi cattle keepers belonging to different regions of Ladakh were also felicitated by the Chief Guest for promoting Ladakhi cattle. A Breed Monograph on Ladakhi cattle was also released by the Guests.

In his address, Dr. Tripathi insisted that the milk of Ladakhi cattle should be popularized for its good quality and antioxidant properties in its milk. Indigenous breeds should be improved through selective breeding, with keeping the purity of the breeds of the region, he told. Sh. Ravinder Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Dept. of Animal Husbandry, UT of Ladakh lauded the work carried out by the ICAR-NBAGR. He added that the department would give more importance to the native breed improvement as well as popularize their produces/products. Dr P K Rout, Asst. Director General (AP&B), ICAR has stressed upon selective breeding of native Ladakhi cattle, as having sufficient milk potential. Dr B P Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR presented the theme of the IDB to promote action in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Dr Manishi Mukesh, PS, ICAR-NBAGR presented the research carried out on the AnGR of Ladakh. In a workshop, Livestock Breeding Policy for Ladakh (UT) was also discussed.

Dr Mohd. Iqbal, I/c Director, Animal Husbandry Dept., Ladakh, Col R K Sharma, DRDO-DIHAR, Dr Stanzin Rabgais, Chief Animal Husbandry Officers, Department of Animal Husbandry, Leh were also present. The program was organized in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Department, Ladakh (UT). Dr S K Niranjan, I/c PME Cell, NBAGR moderated the program.

Further to commemorate the International Biodiversity Day in line with the theme, Farmers’ Awareness programs were also organized in rural areas of Ladakh (UT). These programs were organized by the Bureau scientists at Kanji and Photoksar villages of Leh district on 23 & 24 May 2023, respectively, wherein about 100 farmers/livestock keepers participated. These farmers were sensitized for the promotion and conservation of native breeds of the region by the Bureau’s scientists. The Director of the Bureau addressed the farmers and distributed feed supplements in both of the programs.