Increasing land degradation, global warming, erosion of animal and plant genetic resources, livestock-mediated environmental pollution, severe water shortages and the threat of emerging infectious diseases pose several new challenges to sustainable animal production and food security, particularly in developing countries, said Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. He was addressing the scientists and students of National Dairy Research Institute Karnal during an event organized on the occasion of K.K. Iya Memorial Oration.
Chauhan said, ”The dairy industry in India is the largest globally, accounting for 23% of global milk production. The dairy industry contributes 5% to the national economy and directly supports more than 8 crore farmers. India’s dairy industry has grown significantly over the past 10 years, supported by various initiatives taken by the government. The nation’s milk production increased at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% from 146.31 million tonnes (MT) in 2014-15 to 209.96 MT in 2020-21.”
Chauhan highlighted the various reproductive technologies starting from artificial insemination, oestrus synchronization, multiple ovulation induction and embryo transfer (ET), sperm and embryo sexing, and in vitro embryo production and cloning by nuclear transfer.
Chauhan concluded that reproductive biotechnology has played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life and the safety of animals and humans. In the last four decades there has been an unprecedented surge in the development of biotechnology in animal production and health, with gene-based biotechnologies becoming most prominent in the last decade.
Dheer Singh, Director and Vice Chancellor of the institute read the citation of Chauhan and gave him the K.K. Iya Memorial Oration award.
Dheer Singh said that Chauhan has developed important and easy methods of technology of test tube baby (in vitro embryo) in cows, buffalos, goats and yaks. He also holds the record for making ‘Garima 2’, the first buffalo calf clone in the world.
Joint Director (Academic) AK Singh, Archana Verma, Head AGB and Incharge PME cell, Shilpa Viz, Academic Coordinator and other scientists, staff and students of the institute participated enthusiastically in this program.
