ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

Poultry and Livestock Farming
In an attempt to strengthen livestock industry through
biotechnology, projects were supported for improved
production and productivity for cattle a project was
supported to Veterinary College & Research
Institute, Namakkal. A total of 200 women from 10
villages were trained in detection of mastitis and their
control, low cost feed for better milk yield in cattle.
Interested women were also trained in preparation of
anti helminthic mineral blocks for sheep and goats.
These women are earning good amount through the
sale of these mineral blocks @ Rs. 35/- each. Also
training was provided to selected women in
entrepreneurship through poultry farming including
low cost hatchery, feed and disease aspect. In order
to strengthen the animal feed sector through protein
and vitamin rich azolla, a project was supported to
an NGO at NARDEP, Vivekananda Kendra,
Kanyakumari. Under this project 1000 women were
trained in low cost technology for azolla production
and its application as supplement animal feed. The
project had shown significant improvement in
production & productivity in poultry & cattle. Over
1000 women from Mutharasanallur, Pirattiyur,
Nachikurichi, Maruthanddakurichi and Melavaaladi
villages of Tiruchirapally were trained on desi
chicken rearing and incubation using custimised
hatchery unit. Out of these 100 women have set up a
small poultry farm and are earning Rs. 35,000/- per
annum.
Aquaculture
Through College of Fisheries, Mangalore, a
dedicated demonstration facility has been installed
at Bengre village having 16 racks with the capacity of
20 kg fish each and dry fish storage cabinets.
Approximately 140 women were trained in various
activities for maintaining a fish village by these
fisherwomen. About 40 women were trained in
hygienic fish drying and packaging, 37 women in
aquarium fish breeding and feed pellet making, 20
women in Laboratory analysis of dry fish, 20 women
in laboratory analysis of water & ice and 26 women in
handling computers. An attempt to train women in
entrepreneurship through ornamental fish three
projects were supported at T.N., Orissa and West
Bengal. Over 700 women were trained in the
preparation of pelleted fish feed, glass tanks, mother
aquarium, backyard breeding tanks for commercial
and local of ornamental fish. The trained women are
earning good amount through these projects.
Sericulture
Under project for economic empowerment to women
in through Sericulture projects are supported at
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. A total
of 130 women were trained in organic cultivation of
Mulberry, rearing of silkworm including disease
management. They were also trained in preparation
of various decorative items using the cocoon waste
for additional income through the by-product of silk
industry.
Healthcare
Through a project supported to Mahavir Hospital,
Hyderabad, attempts were made to create
awareness on lead toxicity to women and children
working in paints or batteries industries. The blood
samples from these population were screened for
chemical, biochemical and clinical data. The affected
population were also provided counseling and
treatment. Kowing the fact that Vitamin D deficiency
affects more to growing children and women a
project was supported SGPGIMS & KGMC,
Lucknow, Through the project, 200 girls from 6
villages were selected on random bases. Their
detailed health status and serum alkaline
phosphatase (SAP) level recorded. The affected
population was advised to take 600 unit of calcium in
the form of Calcium Carbonate and at least 15
minutes exposure to sun. As fluorosis (dental or
skeletol) is endemic in large parts of UP, Karnataka,
Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan a project
was supported to Saraswati Dental College,
Lucknow. Through this project, attempts were made
to find out the genetic linkages among the
children with skeletol or dental fluorosis. A population
of 5024 from 7 villages around Lucknow
were screened and it was noted that 28% of
adolescent girls and 43% of pregnant women have
biochemical osteomalacia. Through a project
supported at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology,
Bangalore, a total of 3,000 women were screened for
Carcinoma Cervix using Pap Smear test; 28 positive
cases were referred to hospital for detailed diagnosis
and treatment.
139 Biotechnology for Societal Development