HELPING A FARMER EQUALS HELPING OURSELVES

Pulling up a chair in a hall with nothing but blank faces, seemingly empty yet closed minds, gluing our eyes on to a white screen and involuntarily by habit passing our hands over sheets of paper one after another… A normal day, on a weekday afternoon at university.

Well, maybe I over exaggerated quite a bit. I personally do enjoy learning new things and so do my mates. But there are days where I wished there’d miraculously come a break in routine.

Covid-19 had us locked in our own homes and what a break in routine that was huh? But when the situation toned down, we were asked to go out on a poultry and cattle farm training by the university administration. We looked up for farms around our residential areas, packed up and left not knowing what to expect.

There we were, with heaps of theoretical what-not piled up on our heads waiting to take the spot light in a territory beyond the limits of our knowledge. It didn’t take us long to figure out that we were miles away from even the thought of managing a whole farm of REAL chickens and cattle because this time, they weren’t just figures on books and journals.

We have learnt so much during our short course of training. We had the opportunity of getting to apply the vast theoretical knowledge, principles, analytical and logical skills acquired through the guidance and mentoring of our expert panel of lecturers. And in the process, we also got to share our insight on the management systems, practices and procedures established in the farm in order to showcase the farm’s potential for growth and development.

A range of Small & Medium Scale farms were visited by each of our colleagues and every single one of them showed promise in up-scaling their production. Due to various constraints, they have been limited to their current level of operation. These include economical limitations; difficulties in capital investment for adopting novel technology that increases the qualitative & quantitative characteristics of produce and efficiency of the production process. This can be mitigated at least to a certain extent by the involvement of government and private sector in issuing loans with low interest rates and/or incentives that help them fulfill their financial requirements.

Some rural farmers still follow conventional methods as they are reluctant to adapt to the progression of knowledge, skills and technology. It is not practical to expect from them, a scientific approach towards activities related to animal husbandry. But if we can convince them of adopting Good Agricultural Practices in the critical points of the production process, these farmers will definitely witness a visible progress in operations management and production. This can be done through intensifying extension programmes or with the provision of training programmes that improve their skills involved with livestock management. A public-private partnership for the dissemination of the skills, knowledge and technology revolving around the subject will definitely enhance the quality of the delivery of information and the accessibility to farmers scattered island-wide.

 

We also observed that the inability of farmers to provide quality roughage and concentrate in adequate amounts, had massively hindered the maximum production capacity of milking cows. This was a result of them being unable to purchase enough concentrate feed due to their high price values. Their poor knowledge on pasture/forage plot management, had also caused cattle to consume forage of low nutritive value. The amount of concentrate fed and the quality of roughage directly affect the quantity, fat content and organoleptic properties of milk. Our country had still been unable to cater to the rising demand for milk and dairy products of the local population. Therefore, consumers have to depend on imported products, with questionable nutritive aspects. It is a known fact that small and

medium scale cattle farms make a significant contribution to the country’s fresh cow milk production. So, isn’t it time we make the right provisions and allocate resources in a manner that uplift their living standards and stabilize their livelihoods while catering to the demand of the local consumer base?

Another important subject that we must direct our focus on to is, demolishing the myths established within the market about different livestock products. For an instance, the unacceptable notions concerning the consumption of eggs and broiler meat, the use of growth hormones in the poultry industry and the list goes on. Addressing timely concerns such as the consumption of milk powder and animal welfare issues is also crucial in eliminating false accusations put forward against the livestock industry. This helps in maintaining a continuous supply of products which on the other hand protects livestock farmers at all costs, regardless of their scale of operation.

Sri Lanka has the potential of proving to be of fierce competition to the “big shots” of the global poultry industry maybe not in terms of quantity, but definitely in terms of quality. But this can only be achieved by providing the birds with a steady supply of high-quality feed and housing them in the optimal conditions. Seasonal availability, high price and absence of suitable substitutes at times of feed ingredient unavailability are key concerns in providing chicken with the best nutrients for a desired growth. As students of Animal Science, we have to come up with the best possible solutions to minimize these constraints. Results gained from research on these areas will give poultry farmers hope of achieving expected production levels, if we are able to tackle these problems in a practical and realistic manner.

During our training, we were glad to have been able to share our recommendations such as methods of improving biosecurity measures within the farm premises, better ingredients and methods of feed processing, production of value-added products, effective utilization of by-products and efficient disposal of waste. The management of the farms and their employees were more than happy to have us there for an even longer period. But as they say, all things must come to an end and we were extremely grateful for them for giving us this priceless opportunity. We as undergraduates have the obligation of utilizing the knowledge we gain during our academic period in ways that benefit the community. Therefore, we must definitely be pushed towards gaining hands-on experience in the sector we are involved and in return serve our purpose as aspiring experts in the livestock industry.