DIMAPUR — Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), Mokokchung, in association with SAMETI, Medziphema, and MANAGE, Hyderabad, conducted a six-day skill training of rural youth (STRY) programme on ‘Piggery rearing and management’ from January 29 to February 3 at Longjang community hall under Kubolong block in Mokokchung district.
An update from ATMA Mokokchung stated that the training was aimed at imparting necessary skills to enhance income generation and enable sustainable livelihood of rural youth on livestock-based vocational areas. It was also aimed at improving standard of living by facilitating their growth as entrepreneurs in pig rearing.
The training began with an inaugural programme chaired by C Amongla Jamir, ATMA block technology manager of Kobulong block, while Bendangsunep Aier, associate youth pastor of Longjang Baptist Arogo, said the invocation prayer and the welcome speech was delivered by Satemkaba, farmer friend of Longjang and Khanimu.
Delivering the keynote address, Sentinaro Longchar, deputy project director of ATMA, Mokokchung, stressed on the main objective of the programme to empower the youth in rural areas with adequate skills in relevant sectors and also improve productivity.
She also gave a brief introduction about STRY programme and highlighted the aims and objectives of the training. She further encouraged all the participants to actively partake during the six-day training course.
The resource persons were Dr. Toshiwati, farm manager at the state pig breeding centre, Merangkong, and Dr. Nemjemyanger, farm manager at the state cattle breeding centre, Aliba.
The resource persons delved into a wide range of topics covering selection of site and housing of pig sty, selection of breed and breeding management, feeding of pigs, common diseases in pigs, farm bio-security, vaccination and deworming, disease reporting and outbreak management and economics of pig farming.
It stated that every session concluded with discussion and interaction so as to exchange experiences and views on different problems in pig rearing.
As part of the practical session, a field visit to a piggery unit was conducted where the resource persons suggested procedure for cleaning of pig sty and disinfection and advised the participants for regular cleaning and maintaining clean hygiene to prevent illness and spreading from one pig sty to another.
The programme concluded with a valedictory programme in which Sentinaro Longchar gave away certificates to the participants. It added that dewormer, leaflets and vaccination schedule charts were distributed to all the participants.
Altogether, 16 participants including 9 male and 7 female from Longjang village and ATMA staff attended the skill training.
