Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) for feed and fodder development and nutritional management of livestock in the state.
The ILRI and Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services signed the agreement “Feed and Fodder Production in Different Agro Climatic Zones and its Utilisation for Livestock of Odisha” in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The State Government will provide Rs 18.08 crore for the project.
Under the plan, the Kenya based international agency will provide all necessary training, skill development, laboratory know-how to equip the farmers adopt right feeding practices to manage their livestock based on particular cropping pattern and agro-climatic zones.
It will also assist in zone-wise resource mapping and nutrition analysis of the livestock population of the state and make a comprehensive enhancement of feed and fodder production in the state.
The ILRI will also help the government create a network of 45 fodder cooperative societies and involve 120 progressive farmers to develop fodder nurseries.
The Directorate of Pisciculture has also signed an agreement with the Indian Centre for Ocean Information Services of Hyderabad to provide knowledge associated with study of oceans and its various other related aspects including natural disasters like tsunami.