ITANAGAR : Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu on Wednesday underscored the importance of accurate data collection, youth participation and infrastructure development for the sustainable growth of the livestock sector during the District Veterinary Officers’ (DVOs) Conference-cum-Chintan Baithak held at DK Convention Hall here.
The conference, organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development (AHV&DD), was attended by Minister’s Advisor and MLA Talem Taboh, AHV&DD Secretary YVVJ Rajshekhar, Director Dr Danjan Longri, Joint Directors Dr Taba Heli and Dr Talo Taggu, besides DVOs and nodal officers from across the state.
In his address, Wangsu highlighted the vast potential of the animal husbandry sector as a major source of employment generation and directed officers to take livestock census activities seriously. He said accurate ground-level data is essential for effective planning and implementation, while incorrect reporting often leads to policy and execution gaps.
The Minister emphasised the need to identify genuine and trained farmers so that government assistance reaches deserving beneficiaries. He also called for continuous handholding and monitoring of trained youths even after completion of skill development programmes.
Highlighting infrastructure as a priority area, Wangsu observed that excessive expenditure on repairing old structures often results in inefficient utilisation of resources. He assured officers that efforts would be made to secure adequate funding for new infrastructure and announced that high-performing districts would receive priority support.
Referring to dairy farming as an emerging livelihood opportunity in the state, he stressed the need for awareness generation and motivation among tribal communities. He also encouraged trained youths and progressive farmers to form Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), describing them as key drivers for expanding dairy-based livelihoods.
Wangsu further emphasised the importance of fodder development and informed the gathering that the state government would soon formulate a fodder policy. He directed officers to earmark adequate land for fodder cultivation to support the long-term growth of the livestock sector.
Calling for innovative and practical approaches, the Minister advised officers to focus on need-based infrastructure development and identify areas lacking suitable land for veterinary establishments. He also stressed stronger inter-departmental coordination and assured full support in addressing departmental challenges.
Earlier, AHV&DD Secretary YVVJ Rajshekhar presented an overview of the department’s achievements, challenges and priorities in the livestock sector. He emphasised the preparation of modern and practical Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and urged officers to work closely with district administrations to address cases of encroachment on departmental land.
During the deliberations, MLA Talem Taboh lauded the department’s achievements and expressed concern over encroachment of departmental properties. He suggested effective utilisation of available land resources and proposed the formation of committees headed by respective Additional Deputy Commissioners to address land-related issues. He also recommended linking youths trained under the “Catch Them Young” initiative with government support schemes, including the Atmanirbhar Yojana.
The conference also featured district-wise presentations by DVOs and nodal officers, followed by an extensive discussion on operational challenges, infrastructure gaps and strategies for strengthening the animal husbandry sector in the state.
