February 17, 2010

 

VIV India 2010: Providing knowledge, sharing visions

VNU Exhibitions and Inter Ads Exhibitions organised this year's VIV India - its second edition in Bangalore.

 

The three-day event (Feb 1-3, 2010) brought together an overwhelming number of small- and medium-size poultry farmers, aqua and cattle farmers, feedmillers, nutritionists, veterinarians, investors as well as industry stalwarts, all pouring into the exhibition halls at BIEC, Bangalore.

 

With 7,904 trade visitors, VIV India 2010 outperformed its previous edition by 137%. Visitors came from both India and overseas.

 

The opening for this year's VIV India was officially announced by Prof. K. V. Thomas, India's honourable minister of state for Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution after the ribbon cutting. Addressing the gathering, the minister said "India is ready to provide technological help to its neighbours to prevent 'ingres' of livestock diseases."

 

Following a request from the poultry sector, the minister said that he would hold talks with the government of Kerala to either withdraw or reduce the tax being levied on poultry products in the state.

 

VIV India 2010 also reports strong attendance for its technical seminars. The opening session focused on "Steering Livestock to Food Security." Addressing a high-packed audience at the opening session, the minister said "the Union Government was examining a proposal for launching a national dairy plan with a budget of INR17, 371 crores to achieve a target of producing 180 million tonnes of milk a year by 2021-22".

 

Highlighting the importance of dairy, poultry and fisheries sectors in the growth of agrarian economy, he said the country's agricultural sector could achieve the targeted growth rate of 4% by next year only if the allied sectors such as poultry, dairy and fisheries grew by 8-9%.

 

Also addressing the gathering, Dr. N Rajagopal, director of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, government of Karnataka, said that the state has a good potential for export of livestock products as the cost of these products was lesser in Karnataka than other states.

 

Rabobank for its part, clearly linked growth in the production of safe meat, eggs and milk with securing sufficient food supplies for the rapidly growing Indian population.

 

Meanwhile, the session II seminar conducted jointly by VIV India and CLFMA OF INDIA on "Feed fortification" emphasised on the essence usage of vitamins, minerals, enzymes such as phytase for improving quality feed outputs.