GADVASU offers help to Uttarakhand for livestock rehabilitation

The Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Life Sciences University (GADVASU) here has offered help to flood-ravaged Uttarakhand for the rehabilitation of farm animals.

The Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Life Sciences University (GADVASU) here has offered help to flood-ravaged Uttarakhand for the rehabilitation of farm animals.

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In a communiqué sent by vice-chancellor Dr VK Taneja to the animal husbandry director and district veterinary officers of the Uttarakhand government, the university has assured "every possible help by its specialists as and when required."

GADVASU is the first institution of expertise from Punjab to have offered to be part of Uttarakhand's rehabilitation programme.

"The revival of livestock economy is equally important in Uttarakhand. Everybody's focus has been on human losses. Though farm animals are the backbone of the rural economy, but when any tragedy such as the one in Uttarakhand happens, it gets low priority in the rescue and rehabilitation programme," the vice-chancellor said.

Since it will take two to three years to revive tourism the main source of livelihood in the hill state earning from livestock is very crucial for rural folk during this period, the vice-chancellor said.

Notably, GADVASU is among the few universities in the country with expertise in disaster management for livestock. "Farm animals are the only source of milk and meat in far-flung areas of hill states. Reviving farm stock will be a big challenge for Uttarakhand," said Dr Kirti Dua, expert in disaster management at GADVASU.