Providing knowledge, sharing visions
With 7,904 trade visitors, VIV India 2010 outperformed its previous edition by 137, with participants and visitors hailing from both India itself and overseas.
This year's VIV India was officially opened by Professor K. V. Thomas, India's honourable minister of state for agriculture, consumer affairs, food & public distribution. Addressing the gathering, the minister said "India is ready to provide technological help to its neighbours to prevent the ingress 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 reported strong attendance for its technical seminars. The opening session focused on "Steering Livestock to Food Security." Addressing a packed house audience at the opening session, minister Thomas 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, Thomas said the country's agricultural sector could achieve the targeted growth rate of 4% by next year only if agribusiness sectors such as poultry, dairy and fisheries grew by 8 to 9% respectively.
Also addressing the gathering was Dr. N Rajagopal, director of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services for India's Karnataka state. Rajagopal said that the state has a good potential for exporting livestock products as the cost of these products was lesser in Karnataka than other states.
On the other hand, Rabobank's presentation, clearly linked growth in the production of safe meat, eggs and milk with the need to secure sufficient food supplies for Indian rapidly growing population and per capital consumption.
Meanwhile, the session II seminar conducted jointly by VIV India and CLFMA OF INDIA on "Feed fortification" emphasised the importance of using vitamins, minerals, enzymes such as phytase for improving quality feed outputs.
