Source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com
A two-member Australian business development delegation came to the 8th National Livestock Championship in Muktsar on Saturday to explore ways to promote dairy development in Punjab and exchange of farmers between the state and their country.
The Australian Trade Commission (ATC) would also look at sharing innovative ideas to increase milk production and promote precision farming with the twin ideas of ‘crop per drop’ and ‘reduce inputs, grow production.’
One of the Australian delegation members belongs to Pakistan and also worked on boosting dairying trade from the Indian subcontinent.
Anirban Deb, business development manager (agribusiness, food and beverages) with ATC, said, “There are immense possibilities in promoting dairy development in India on the lines of Australia. Despite similar climatic conditions, Australia has increased its dairy business due to innovative ideas and thrust on research and development (R&D) in the sector. We have 1.6 million cows as compared to 72 million cows in India, but we got milk output of 9,500 million litres per year and in India, the annual m
ilk production is 135,000 million litres. Average milk production per year per cattle is nearly 6,000 litres in Australia, while it is 1,900 litres in India.”
Deb said this was made possible due to innovative ideas and precision farming. “We also gave thrust to fodder development by adopting Rhodes grass, which is very rich in proteins,” he said and added that Pakistan exports Rhodes grass to Dubai.
Imran Saeed Khan, regional business development manager, ATC said, “We are working to promote dairy trade in the Indian subcontinent, which shows immense possibilities for rapid growth. India needs genetic improvement in its cattle and fodder development to make cattle healthier. The Holstein-Freisan cows in Australia and Pakistan are much stronger and healthier than in India. The same can come true in India if more is spent on R&D.”
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