A two-day district level fish and livestock fair has been inaugurated at the local police ground in Nuapada. District Collector Madhusudan Das joined the fair as the chief guest and inaugurated it. Prominent lawyer Prasanna Kumar Padhi, MP representative, Dr. Sukhendu Ray, District Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Sharda Prasad Singh Bariha, District Chief Veterinary Officer, Balangir, Ms. Anusuya Potter, Chairperson, Panchayat Samiti, Komna, Dr. Basudev Sunani, Retired Joint Secretary, Government of India, Mr. Bharat Lal Raut, Madhyaman District Council, Dr. Lob Soren, Chief Scientist, Agricultural Science Centre, Nuapada and Bijan Kumar Sahu, District Fisheries Officer participated and inaugurated the fair with Go Pujan. The focus of the fair was the growth of fisheries and livestock and the prosperity of the farmers of the state. There are a total of 19 stalls of various departments in the fair. Rai, District Chief Veterinary Officer greeted all the guests with Phultoda and Uttariya and gave welcome address. The students of National Girls High School performed welcome music. The visiting guests toured the live fish and livestock display and addressed all the women from fish farmers, cattle herders, goat herders, poultry farmers and self-help groups who participated in the fair. She called for women’s empowerment through fisheries and animal husbandry, prevention of poverty and above all self-reliance. Scientific methods were introduced with the aim of doubling the profits from farming through fish farming, animal husbandry, hydroponic grass cultivation, regular vaccination, etc. The District Chief Veterinary Officer gave information about the government schemes. Farmers should take advantage of the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Enterprise Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Prashikiya Yojana, Gomata Yojana, Chief Minister’s Animal Welfare Scheme, Chief Minister’s Animal Samriddhi Yojana. In his speech, the District Governor said that the cooperation of the Animal Husbandry Department is very important for the betterment of the farmers. He congratulated the Animal Husbandry Development Department for the successful implementation of the One Day for Animals program by emphasizing on animal husbandry and conservation. The district governor said that the farmers who became millionaires by farming in the district are the pride, glory and role models of the district. In his speech, the guests present called for increasing income through fisheries and animal husbandry. On this occasion, Mrs. Devaki Sa was honored for cattle rearing, Jaya Ma Satasi self-help group for fish farming, Mrs. Harisutha Khersel for fish farming in bio-pond medium. Laub Soren, Dr. Basudev Sunani, Dr. Sharda Prasad Singh Bariha, Bijan Kumar Sahu, Dr. Suchishmita Parveri was the chief guest and guided more than 500 farmers and solved the problems of the farmers. Livestock Department, Health Department, Fisheries Department, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department, Soil Conservation and Watershed Development Department, Agricultural Science Center, Tourism Department, Police, Fire Department, OMFED, Handicraft Department, Mission Power, Home Industry, District Industrial Center participated in the Fish and Livestock Fair. All the officers and staff of Animal Resources and Fisheries Department were present and cooperated. The live fish and livestock exhibition includes different types of grass farming, hydroponics, Azolla production, Gir cow, Sahiwal cow, Shankar national Holstein cow, artificially bred Black Bengal goat, Ganjam goat, Gunduri breed, laying hen, Hansli chicken, native chicken, Banraj chicken, fox, fish. Hatcheries, biofloc tanks, nursery tanks, integrated agriculture etc. are exhibited and attract farmers and general public.
Biswanath Samal’s report from Nuapada, Fast News Odisha