23rd, May, 2022
Topic: Sheep breed improvement as part of the National Livestock Mission.
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- Himachal launches a genetic enhancement plan for Pahari sheep by crossbreeding with Australian merino.
Purpose:
- The Himachal government has launched Rs 8.5 crore community-based structured breeding program to achieve genetic improvement of native Pahari sheep by crossing with Australian Merino sheep.
This is done under which program?
- The state government has imported 240 Australian merino sheep (40 males and 200 females) at a cost of Rs 6 crore (approx) for breed improvement under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) so that superior exotic germplasm could be infused to achieve the target of about 3,000 tonne wool production by next five years, said Animal Husbandary Minister Virender Kanwar. He said the Australian merino sheep are known to have the softest and finest wool used for apparel.
The Breed program:
- These local sheep will be crossbred with Australian merino sheep.
- 240 Australian merino sheep have been imported at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
- State aims to produce 3,000-tonne wool in the next five years.
Present Production of wool:
- The average wool production in Himachal is about 1,599 gm per sheep every year. The state has two popular breeds of sheep namely – The Rampur Bushairi breed and Gaddi breed — that are popular for producing high-quality carpet wool.
- The Rampur Bushairi sheep breed is reared in Shimla district while Gaddi sheep breed is reared in Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul & Spiti districts.
- The state has 7,91,345 sheep which produce coarse carpet quality wool at present.
Important:
- At present, Himachal is the sixth largest producer of wool in the country contributing four per cent to the country’s total wool production and this wool is used to prepare products like carpets, yarn, fabrics and garments mainly for the domestic market.
About breeding program:
- The breeding program will improve the quality of wool and wool of 21-22 microns suitable for apparel production would be produced which will be on a par with the world’s best premium quality fabrics, he added.
- Moreover, the multipurpose merino sheep (a Spanish breed prized for its soft, fine and lustrous fiber) is being reared at sheep breeding farms at Nagwain (Mandi district) where infrastructure facilities have been strengthened to meet requirements of imported livestock with a total cost of Rs 2 crore (approx) and 800 healthy lambs have been produced through artificial insemination.
(Source: The Tribune)
Topic: MOU in Education
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- Sardar Patel University, Mandi, on Friday signed a pact with the University of Ladakh for the pursuit of programs of mutual interest.
Purpose:
- To promote and support academics and research for the development of excellence, the universities agreed to cooperate in many activities like visits of faculty and students for the purpose of research, teaching and consultancy, organization of joint events such as seminars, workshops, conferences, training programs, exchange of students for one or two semesters for course work and projects with the transfer of credits.
(Source: The Tribune)
Topic: Education
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- HPU to start a twin degree program.
- The University Grants Commission has granted twin degree program to Himachal Pradesh University under which its students would also have an option to study from foreign universities in online and offline modes.
How it will work?
- The students pursuing a twin degree programme will get two degrees (one from the HPU and another from a foreign university).
- Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) will be signed with foreign universities in this regard, said HPU Officiating Vice-Chancellor SP Bansal.
- One such MoU had been signed with the Pennsylvania University.
(Source: The Tribune)
