The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, has announced a specialized outreach program aimed at spreading awareness about its VB-G-Ram-G initiative among village Sarpanches. Recognizing that village heads are the primary catalysts for rural transformation, the institute seeks to equip them with the knowledge to implement scientific dairy practices and sustainable village management at the grassroots level.
What is VB-G-Ram-G? The VB-G-Ram-G (Village-Based Genetic Resource Augmentation and Management – Green) initiative is a strategic framework developed by NDRI to revolutionize rural dairy ecosystems.
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Genetic Augmentation: Focuses on improving the local livestock quality by providing high-quality semen and embryos of superior breeds like Karan Fries and Sahiwal.
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Management & Green Practices: Promotes “green” dairy farming, which includes scientific fodder management, waste-to-wealth programs (biogas), and reducing the carbon footprint of rural households.
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The “Ram” Connection: The acronym also emphasizes a community-driven approach (Ram-G), where the village functions as a self-sustaining unit for dairy production and processing.
The Awareness Drive The NDRI extension department will host a series of workshops for Sarpanches from across Haryana and neighboring states.
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Knowledge Transfer: Sarpanches will be briefed on how to set up village-level milk collection centers and how to access NDRI’s diagnostic facilities for animal health.
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Demonstration Units: The institute will showcase “Model Dairy Villages” to the visiting leaders, highlighting how technology-driven interventions can double farmers’ income.
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Incentives: The program also outlines government subsidies available for cooperatives and small-scale dairy startups initiated at the Panchayat level.
Vision for the Future The Director of NDRI stated that the VB-G-Ram-G model is designed to stop the migration of rural youth to cities by making dairy farming a profitable and prestigious profession. By involving Sarpanches, NDRI aims to ensure that scientific research doesn’t just stay in labs but reaches every cowshed in the country.
