Israel agriculture:Role model for India?

By Editorial Team • on June 1, 2006

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Israel agriculture sector’s high level of development is due to the close cooperation and interaction between scientists, extension advisers, farmers, and agriculture-related industries. These four elements have joined together to promote advanced technologies in all agricultural branches. The result is modern agriculture in a country, half of which is defined as desert.
Despite the decrease in the number of farmers and agriculture’s share in the GDP,agriculture plays a significant role as a major food supplier to the local market and is an important factor in Israeli export. Total agricultural produce in 2002 accounted for1.7% of the GDP. Some 62,000 people were directly employed in agriculture in2002. This number represents 2.4% of the country’s total labor force. The average monthly income per agricultural employee was $1,530 in 2002

Export Agricultural export (fresh and processed)for 2002 reached $1.050 billion, 4.1% of the country’s total export. Exported fresh produce amounted to $620 million, mainly to the European Union, while exported processed food products totaled $430million.A total of $1.32 billion of agricultural inputs were exported in 2001. This high figure represents the results of developing advanced agricultural technology, which has promoted the industry of sophisticated industrial inputs. Hands-on experience in local agriculture serves as a laboratory for development and production of new input technologies.

Climate and Topography
More than half of the country is characterized by an arid and semi-arid climate, and a large part of Israel is hilly. A narrow coastal strip and several inland valleys represent most of the fertile areas, where water supplied from aquifers and the Sea of Galilee make irrigation possible. Israel’s total land area is approximately 21,000 km2, of which only4,100 km2 – about 20% – are arable.Israel’s climate, together with extensive greenhouse production, enables production of vegetables, fruit and flowers during the winter off-season, especially for export to European markets. The water constraints and varied climate have stimulated the development of unique agro-technologies, based on high quality standards according to updated international production and food-safety regulations.

Emu farms begin mushrooming in state

AHMEDABAD: After taking roots in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, the breeding of emus - a bird native to Australia - is now catching on fast in Gujarat. As many as 40 emu farms have sprung up across Mehsana, Surat, Palanpur, Vadodara and Kheda in the last couple of years, industry sources said.

However, a production-linked-market is still lacking. "In the last six months, enquiry regarding the interest- subsidy scheme for emu farming has gained some momentum in Gujarat," said Nabard assistant general manager P Balachandran.

The bird's meat and oil (extracted from its fat) is in demand in many parts of the country, but emu farming is more popular in southern states. "The market has virtually got saturated in the southern states, so people are venturing into emu farming in new states like Gujarat," another Nabard official said.

"Emu farming is an emerging industry in Gujarat. A pair of chicks fetches anything between Rs 8,000 to 15,000 depending upon the size, while older ones sell for anything between Rs 20,000 to 40,000," said Sumesh Singh, the owner of an emu farm at Samartha in Anand district.

"The bird is used mainly for two purposes - oil and meat. Crude oil derived from it is refined to extract Omega 6, 9 and 3 variants, which finds applications in the cosmetic and soap industry, medicine and food items," he said.

"Initially farmers from Maharashtra used to enter into contracts with the farm owners in Gujarat for supply of emu eggs, but now people here have set up their own hatcheries and have begun trading in chicks," said Vishal Patel, an emu farm owner from Palanpur. "The emu eggs are sold for Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 a piece," Patel said.

With a view to diversify poultry industry, the Centre has launched Poultry Venture Capital Fund. "As part of this scheme, 50 per cent of the loan availed from banks is interest-free, once emu-farming project is approved by Nabard," an official said. But a study conducted by Nabard in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh shows that a ready market for emu-related products is yet to be established, and exports are not so good.

"In the absence of established market, banks are cautious in sanctioning loans for emu farming, so no project has been sanctioned in Gujarat so far, as a part of the interest-subsidy scheme," he said. According to industry estimates, because of demand for emu meat from the states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Punjab, nearly 6-7 lakh birds are required annually. The consumption of emu meat is pegged at close to 3 lakh kg across the country. 

Emu Birds

Emus are primarily herbivores (plant-eaters). They eat grass, seeds, flowers, young plants, and fruit. They also eat some insects (including caterpillars & grass hopper). They swallow small stones (called gastroliths or gizzard stones) which stay in the gizzard and help grind up food.
Commercial feeds may be formulated fed as starter, grower, breeder, maintenance and finisher. Usually by 3rd or 4th day chicks able to pick up food from ground ,during this period yolk sac help them. Most companies making it crumble(crushed) form for chick to pick up. at about 3 months they could be graduated to grower which is normally a larger pellet then after it may be changed to finisher form for the birds to process at 14-16 months.

Floor space: this is the rule of thumb one breeding pair require 100x25 ft. Colony pen require 100ftx100 ft for 4 breeding pairs. Chick take up less place but as they grow their area should increase Chick out door may need 30-40 ft. Three to six month old chicks need 1000 ft to run .Grow out pens seems to work well with 40birds in 40 ft x100 ft.

Sexual identification:
Distinguishing between male and female is very difficult but one thing noticeable to the professionals the lower leg. The male usually has a shorter leg than the female. Secondly female having air sac which hangs down from the chest area. This hangs even more during breeding season. Thirdly female emu makes natural booming sound where as male emits grunting sound.

Catching of emu:
For catching emu never use ropes, It is advisable to use leather gloves. To handle the bird it is best to move close to a chain link ,welded wire or non climb wire fence ,catch it while it goes by, getting behind it and grabbing the two small wings, other wise nail of the three toes are like razors which may cut very deep injuries.

Diseases :Emu are highly susceptible to encephalomyelitis. They receive it from horses, flying birds. It is not transmissible to human. Equine triple E vaccination have worked well against this disease. Other common diseases have to be followed.

CHALLENGES FOR INDIAN DAIRY INDUSTRY

India is the largest milk producing country in the world. It has come a long way from producing merely 17 million tonnes of milk in 1950-51 to producing 104.8 million tonnes in 2007-08. The per capita availability of milk during the same period has increased from 124 grams to 252 grams per day despite its increasing population. While the present availability is more than ICMR recommendation (220 g), it is still less than WHO recommendation (283 g), world average (285 g) and the relative availability in a large number of other countries. The total milk production in the country consists of about 41.5 per cent cow milk, 54.5 per cent buffalo milk and 4 per cent goat milk. Most of the milk producers in the country belong to the categories of small and marginal farmers, and landless households. The milk is produced from a large number of low yielding animals fed largely on crop residues and common grazing lands.
The total value of the milk economy of India is estimated at Rs. 13,000 billion. Much of the Indian Dairy industry is under unorganized sector and is dominated by traditional dairy products. Only about 13 per cent of the total milk produced is processed by the organized sector. Dairy cooperatives (brands like Amul, Vijaya, Verka, Saras, Nandini, Parag, Milma and Gokul) account for a major share of the organized dairy sector. Other important firms in the organized dairy sector include Nestle, Britannia, Dynamix, SmithKline Beecham, Heinz, Indiana, Jagatjit Industries and Dabur. Many foreign players have recently entered the Indian dairy industry on their own or in the form of joint ventures.
India was a consistent net importer of dairy products in value terms during 1961 to
1993. Its position oscillated between being a net importer and a net exporter during
1994 to 2000. It has been a consistent net exporter of dairy products thereafter.
However, its share in total world exports of dairy products has remained less than
one per cent.
Some of the important challenges faced by Indian dairy industry may be identified as follows: (1) organizing milk producers under cooperatives, (2) provision of
veterinary services, feeds and fodders in a cost effective manner, (3) promoting hygienic practices of milk production, (4) increasing milk production and per capita availability, (5) producing and marketing high volumes of dairy products with low
margins, (6) meeting international standards and increasing exports, (7) tackling the menace of production of artfficial milk, (8) promoting sheep, goat and camel milk,
(9) commercial production of traditional products, (10) innovating product varieties, (11) feedback towards appropriate government policies, and (12) reducing adverse environmental impacts of dairying.

Dairy Farming in India

It is seen at most places that a Dairy Farmer is not aware of the economics of his day to day business. This is because Dairy has been a traditional form of business, which is being carried on by generations together. The pattern particularly of the feeding & watering has been quite the same for a long time. 

It is commonly seen that most of the Farmers who keep animals for Milk have very little or NO idea about the expenses (per day) invloved in raising the animals. It is interesting to note that the farmer is even unaware of the fact that the feeding cost of his animal comprises of more than 80% of the total cost of raising the animals.
Perhaps the main reason for this may be as he grows the majority of the fodder in his own land he has never bothered about its cost.

Pertaining to the feeding & drinking habits many fallacies (misconceptions) exist viz. 

1. It is advisable to feed animal with wet/cooked feed.
Scientifically the feed fed to animal should be chewed (& ruminated) so that the saliva mixes with the feed. The saliva contains phosphates & bicarbonates, which help in maintaining the pH of the Rumen, which help in proper digestion of the Feed. Good digestion ensures wellbeing & the production is dependent on the same.
If the feed fed to animal is wet or cooked then chewing does not take place 
resulting in imbalance of the Ruminal pH which is very vital for proper digestion. 
This will ultimately affect the Milk production (which will be low in this case).


2. Water requirement can be fulfilled with 2/3 times in a day.
To produce one litre of Milk it is essential to drink minimum 5 litres of water thus animal giving about 10 litres of milk daily should drink more than 50 litres of water. This requirement is only for Milk but animal also has to maintain itself as well as reproduce thus an animal giving 10 litres of milk has to consume at least 75 litres of water daily ; which is just not possible by offering animal water only about 2/3 times during the day. 
The animal should be giving clean water as many times as possible. If this is done then automatically increase in milk production is seen.
It should be noted that milk contains about 83 - 87% of water.

3. Animal should be fed continuously throughout the day.
If the animal is fed round the clock then it will not get any time to ruminate. If there is no time to ruminate then the digestion will not be proper as the feed mixing with saliva (due to rumination) will not take place. Thus the milk production will be decreased due to impaired digestion.

4. Animal gives more milk with more concentrate feed.
The animal’s stomach is a complex structure containing 4 parts. Unlike simple stomach it requires more fibre for complete & balanced feeding. It has been made in such a way that animal has to consume green & dry grasses for efficient digestion & conversation into Milk. (The concentrates are being fed as the grasses in India are poor in general quality as regards CP/EE/Energy value etc). Feeding animal more concentrates will lead to decrease in salivary output upon which ruminal pH is dependent. This will lead to acidosis by which depression in milk fat will be seen. For getting more milk with better Fat% it is essential to give grasses (dry as well as green) which help proper digestion as this will result in maintenance of Ruminal pH due to continual rumination resulting in better production. 
It should also be noted that giving more concentrates (more protein & energy) than required will lead into Animal spending more energy to breakdown these proteins which on the contrary should have been utilized for milk production. It is also seen that feeding more protein leads to reproductive problems.

5. The animal’s mineral requirement is met totally through the Feed & fodder.
Animal requires certain minerals for their optimum growth / Maintainence / milk production & reproduction. The minerals available in Feed & fodder take care of the Maintainence & production to a certain extent but will not be sufficient to take care of all the requirements. At the same time through every litre of milk animal also loses certain quantities of minerals, which need to be replaced at the soonest. As this is not being followed the animal’s productive capacity is greatly reduced & animals have to be replaced at an early stage. 
Thus it is very essential to give Mineral Mixture everyday. Every farmer should note that Mineral Mixture is not a medicine (usually thought to be given only during infertility) but a very essential part of the animals daily needs.

6. Natural Service is better than Artificial Insemination.
With the use of same bull everytime we may not be able to improve the genetic potential of the animal. Improvement in genetic potential is primarily responsible for increasing milk production, whereas with A.I this can be very much possible. Secondly the use of same bull being mated with various cows the chances of contracting diseases by the bull is possible.

7. Animal should fed only Grass during the DRY period. 
The animal in dry period (especially in the last 2 months of Pregnancy); is not fed properly and is fed only with grasses as it is not giving milk during that period. Actually it is a very crucial time for the animal as its body is undergoing lot of changes w.r.t the growth of foetus (calf) & meeting its requirement. 
Usually these animals are fed only with fodder & they become very deficient in mineral status as well as their own energy status leading to various problematic conditions commonly known as Metabolic disorders & lowered milk production.