Fodder Seed Production
SAGB is also engaged in fodder seed production as a parallel activity for the last two decades. Large-scale seed multiplication is undertaken through registered seed growers exclusively selected under this programme. Stringent quality control is carried out at every stage of seed production. Based on demand, the focus was on production of Lucerne seed. The raw seed procured from growers was processed at SAGB’s seed processing plant and packed in convenient packs. The production and sale of Lucerne seed were 39.00 MT and 31.60 MT respectively during the year 2010-11.
SAGB has a unique mission to promote sustainable livestock development in the country. Founded in Ahmedabad in 1915 by Mahatma Gandhi as part of the Harijan Ashram and later handed over to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in 1973 for professional management, SAGB has traversed a long path to reach a state of excellence in the field of animal husbandry and agriculture. It represents the realisation of a vision, creativity, commitment and the toil of a dedicated workforce fully supported by NDDB. The quality of the breeding inputs has been a major concern in the past while formulating and implementing breeding programmes in the country. It continues to be the central issue even today. Since inception, SAGB has been striving to address this matter through acquisition of resources, knowledge, technology and infrastructure required for production of quality genetics. Our core activities of frozen semen production, bull production, breed conservation and preservation of germplasm and support activities like fodder and fodder seed production and manpower training and development are tailored to meet the organisational goals of enhancing productivity of cattle and buffaloes in the country. Over the years, the upgradation of technology coupled with human skills and an eco-friendly infrastructure has helped us to evolve and stabilise a frozen semen production system that has now set new benchmarks in production.
We have achieved fair success in harnessing bull power through a holistic and systematic approach to breeding sire management. Processing protocols were continually refined and procedural errors minimised through in-house quality audit. The need to produce and sell high quality products and increase the efficiency of the production process led to putting in place quality assurance systems – Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Good Management Practices and Total Quality Management (TQM).Experts have reviewed these processes periodically. Innovations of value were adopted into the system. The ISO 9001:2008 certification awarded to SAG by M/s BVQI, UK, an internationally reputed certifying agency vindicated our continual efforts to achieve and maintain high quality standards. Notwithstanding this, we still see immense potential for growth and continual improvement in all quality parameters related to frozen semen production.
Future Plans
It is envisaged that with the launching of National Dairy Plan (NDP) I by NDDB, the demand for quality semen doses will go up further in the country and SAGB will have a good market for its semen doses. In NDP I, it is planned to raise the total number of inseminations carried out to go up from the current level of 50 million to some 95 million by 2016-17. It is hoped that with the constant guidance of NDDB and innovative changes by SAGB in semen production and processing, it will maintain its leadership position in the sector and provide an example to other semen stations to follow for many years to come. SAGB’s efforts have always been directed towards improving the productivity of dairy animals and agricultural land and transferring the benefit of enhanced productivity to the dairy farmers to augment their income and quality of life. SAGB will continue to remain firm on this philosophy.