Back to news

Strengthening Farmers’ Knowledge on “Animal Nutrition and Health Care for Improving Dairy Production” in the Kangchenjunga Landscape, India

Because of the decline in crop farming due to human-wildlife conflict, commercial dairy farming has emerged as one of the viable livelihood options in Ribdi, in West Sikkim, India, one of the pilot sites of the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative. In the 20-year strategy for the landscape, diversifying livelihood options through improved dairy farming has, through a rigorous participatory process, been prioritised as a key intervention area.

1 min Read

70% Complete
Ribdi dairy development framework

From 16-18 November 2017, around 50 dairy farmers from Ribdi-Gorkhey, India, convened in Ribdi for a three-day hands-on training and exposure visit on “Animal Nutrition and Health Care for Improving Dairy Production.” The training was organized with support from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) by the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Sikkim Unit, in collaboration with The Mountain Institute (TMI) in India, Gangtok; the Diocesan Integrated society for Holistic Action (DISHA), Kalimpong; and the Department of Animal Husbandry, Livestock and Fisheries, Government of Sikkim. The training aimed to strengthen the participants’ knowledge of dairy farming and expose them to experiences of successful practices at the local level.

Over the three days, participants received training in several facets of dairy farming, including animal nutrition and feeding practices, healthcare and medication, as well as livestock management and dairy entrepreneurship. The training was conducted by experts from DISHA, TMI, and ICIMOD and comprised theoretical sessions as well as practical demonstrations and field observations in selected progressive dairy farms.

During the training, a discussion was also held on the conceptual framework for dairy development in Ribdi. This exercise broadened development perspectives about the dairy interventions in the landscape. Participants and local village leaders commended the training for boosting their confidence in sustainable dairy farming and entrepreneurship.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related content

Continue exploring this topic

27 Jul 2016 News
Bringing Nature into the National Curriculum

A half-day workshop to explore how nature camp and environmental issues could be better incorporated within the National Education System ...

29 Jul 2015 News
Micro-planning in Myanmar

The ‘Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalayas (Himalica) Initiative’ facilitated a three-day micro-planning workshop in Kyaung Taung ...

25 Dec 2015 News
ICIMOD Scientists Contribute to Managing Energy, Water and Food Security Challenges in Pakistan

The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) organized the 31st Annual General Meeting and Conference of the 

21 Jun 2018 Cryosphere
Cryosphere Information Hub for Bhutan

The National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) in Bhutan will soon have a Cryosphere Information Hub that will share ...

15 Jun 2016 News
HKH Partnership to Foster Regional Solidarity

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) Partnership for Sustainable Mountain Development was launched during a ministerial-level panel discussion organized on 24 ...

15 May 2015 News
Impact of Nepal Earthquake 2015 on Langthang Valley

  The 7.8 magnitude Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015 and subsequent aftershocks caused more than 8,500 fatalities, nearly 22,500 injured, ...

2 Jan 2015 News
Asia-Pacific Youth Forum and Training Workshop on Mountain Adaptation

Participants included high-level bureaucrats, youth leaders, researchers, and tech innovators from the region. They engaged in capacity building, ...