GANDERBAL, AUGUST 14: A 15-day capacity-building programme for veterinary officers from Ladakh on “Future-Ready Livestock Farming” was inaugurated at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (FVSc & AH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama.
Organised by the Division of Livestock Production and Management (LPM), FVSc & AH, the training aims to equip field-level veterinary officers with contemporary scientific knowledge, emerging technologies and practical approaches to strengthen livestock productivity, animal health and farmer livelihoods in the challenging Himalayan region.
Prof. Riaz Ahmad Shah, Dean, FVSc & AH, SKUAST-K, was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session. Addressing the participants, he stressed the importance of continuous professional development for veterinary officers, particularly those working across geographically diverse and challenging regions such as Ladakh.
Prof. Shah emphasized that strengthening the technical capacities of field veterinarians is essential for ensuring that advances in veterinary science and emerging technologies translate into practical benefits for livestock farmers at the grassroots level.
Earlier, Prof. Hilal Musadiq Khan, Head, Division of LPM, outlined the objectives and scope of the training.
Prof. M. T. Banday and Prof. Islam Udin Sheikh, Professors in the Division of LPM, interacted with the participants and highlighted the growing relevance of contemporary approaches to livestock production and management. Dr. I. A. Baba, Dr. R. A. Pattoo and Dr. S. Adil were also present.
The 15-day programme covers a wide range of areas, including scientific and integrated livestock production, animal health, reproduction, genetics, nutrition, disease diagnostics, artificial intelligence and digital livestock management systems.
The training is designed to provide participants with practical, field-oriented exposure to modern livestock technologies and management approaches that can be applied to improve productivity, animal health and the resilience of livestock-based livelihoods.
The programme reflects SKUAST-K’s continued focus on human-resource development, technology-driven livestock systems and resilient agricultural practices suited to the Himalayan and other challenging agro-climatic regions.
