LUDHIANA: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University (GADVASU), in collaboration with the Indian Dairy Association (IDA) Punjab Chapter, celebrated National Milk Day with great fanfare. The event was conducted in honor of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the "Father of the White Revolution, " to celebrate his birth anniversary by organizing a seminar on The Transformative Role of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence in Dairying”. Experts highlighted the remarkable journey of dairy development in Punjab from a milk-deficit state to becoming a frontrunner in dairy production, and its contribution in the national economy.
Addressing the event Dr. J P S Gill, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Science University and Chief Guest of the function elaborated the importance of livestock sector in agrarian economy which contributes around 39 percent of the total agricultural GDP of Punjab. With only 2.16 percent of national bovine population, Punjab contributes around 6.40 percent (13.40 MT) of milk annually to the national milk pool. He further elaborated importance of biosecurity at dairy farms, tackling adulteration through public awareness, and using Artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline milk supply chains. S. Inderjit Singh Sra, Chairman IDA (Punjab Chapter), underlined the various activities conducted under the banner of IDA in the area of dairy development. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Uppal, Dean College of Dairy and Food Science Technology and Convener of the event, apprised about the theme of the seminar and highlighted the role of AI and Information Technology in the dairy sector and importance of precision dairy farming. S. Daljeet Singh Gill, President Progressive Dairy Farmers Association Punjab, highlighted the illustrious journey of commercial dairy farms in Punjab. He particularly emphasized about the role of quality germplasm in development of commercial dairy farms. Dr. G S Bedi, Director Animal Husbandry Department, Punjab emphasized on role of scientific methods in dairy farming, including vaccination and feed testing, to reduce animal mortality rates. Sh. Ramesh Chugh, Vice-Chairman, IDA (North Zone) outlined IDA’s efforts to promote excellence in milk processing and empower women through awards, fostering growth and inclusivity.
During the seminar, a technical session was conducted where experts from different organizations with their backgrounds in dairy farming and application of AI, elaborated on its role in transforming dairy practices, health monitoring and marketing strategies. Dr. Inderpreet Kaur, Professor and Head, Department of Dairy Economics and Business Management conducted the sessions and explained the role of record keeping and cost estimation in professional management of dairy farms. The event was attended by about 200 participants across the different stakeholders from dairy industry, dairy development department, academia, dairy farmers, faculty and students.