BANDIPORA, SEPTEMBER 21: SKUAST-Kashmir scientists conducted a two-day training and awareness programme on silage making, fodder conservation and scientific livestock management in Gurez, providing farmers with practical training and equipment to support livestock nutrition and address seasonal fodder shortages.
Organised in collaboration with KVK Dawar, the programme included practical demonstrations at Dawar and Kanzalwan. Farmers received hands-on training in fodder selection, harvesting, chopping, compaction, sealing and storage for silage preparation.
Silage chaff cutters and drums were distributed for community use, while selected farmers received prepared silage to familiarise themselves with its use and encourage adoption of the practice.
Dr. Manzoor Yatoo, Associate Professor and Animal Nutrition Specialist, MLRI, and Dr. Riyaz Bhat, SMS Animal Sciences and Co-Principal Investigator, provided technical training on silage preparation and fodder conservation. Dr. Maliha Gulzar, Project JRF, and Akif Wani, Semi-Skilled Worker, were also part of the project team.
The awareness sessions covered livestock vaccination, deworming, mineral supplementation and balanced feeding. Mineral mixture and deworming medicines were distributed among farmers as part of the programme.
The initiative seeks to improve fodder conservation and livestock nutrition, reduce feed wastage and promote community-level silage preparation as a supplementary entrepreneurial activity in Gurez.
The programme was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Amatul Muhee, Principal Investigator and Head, Veterinary Clinical Complex, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, SKUAST-Kashmir.
