ICAR – CCARI Scientists visit Ernakulam District Kerala to assess effect of flood on agriculture and animal husbandry
ICAR – CCARI Scientists visit Ernakulam District Kerala to assess effect of flood on agriculture and animal husbandry
Towards contributing to the flood relief efforts and studying the impact analysis of the disaster, a multidisciplinary team of experts from ICAR-CCARI, Goa in collaboration with ICAR-KVK (Ernakulam) of ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi visited flood affected areas of the Ernakulam during 1st to 5th September, 2018. The team comprised Dr. Arunachalam, V., Dr. Gokuldas P.P. Dr. Sanjay Udharwar, Dr. Dr. Chethan Kumar H.B., Dr. Paramesha V, Dr. Bappa Das, Scientists from ICAR-CCARI, Goa and Dr. K. Smita Sivadasan, SMS (Animal Husbandry) from ICAR-KVK, Ernakulam participated in the programme. The veterinary team had an extensive interaction with 650 farmers affected due to the devastating flood. The team visited major flood-affected areas like North Paravur, Aluva, Kaladi, South Vellarappilly, Chowara, Kodanad and Cheranalloor during the period. Total of 15 animal health camps benefitting around 650 farmers and 20 house visits were taken up to treat severely affected animals. Around 220 animals were also treated during the health camps organized in active collaboration with Ernakulam District animal husbandry department. Important medicines worth rupees one lakh were also distributed to the farmers who could not bring their animals to health camp. The agriculture and horticulture expert team had an extensive interaction with more than 15 farmers with the help of SMS (Horticulture) KVK Ernakulam, and officials of Department of Agriculture, Government of Kerala in the District. Based on the observations and interview, impact assessment, recommendations were made which can be incorporated in the post-flood strategies in the future. Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director (A), ICAR-CCARI made site visit on 5th September, 2018 to assess the progress of the camps and subsequently held a meeting with the officials of ICAR KVK, Ernakulam and Ernakulam district animal husbandry department officials at ICARCMFRI, Kochi. Dr. Shinoj Subramannian, Head of KVK, Ernakulam and Dr. Mary James, District Animal husbandry officer i/c also participated in the meeting.