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

15 Sep 2016 News
Flood Mapping Made Easier in Bihar

Bihar, India’s most flood-prone state, is under constant threat of flooding. Every year, floods destroy lives, livestock, infrastructure and bring ...

25 Jun 2018 Cryosphere
CMP-B professionals trained on HEC-RAS Flood Modelling

ICIMOD is currently supporting a socio-economic and vulnerability assessment of the Punatshangchu basin as part of the Cryosphere Monitoring Programme ...

30 Sep 2016 Gender in Koshi
Spring Revival Pilot Project a Success

As a young girl growing up in the hilly Dapcha Kashikhanda municipality, Sushila Adhikari remembers her local pond Daraune Pokhari. ...

Policy Level Interventions to Improve Brick Industry in Nepal

The purpose of the workshop was to present a compiled report and to seek input from concerned institutions to further ...

Lemon farming introduced at International Biodiversity Day Bahundangi, Jhapa

Students, teachers and the local community celebrated International Biodiversity Day 2016 at Mechi Janasadharan Higher Secondary School, Bahundangi, Jhapa on ...

Participatory GIS for building community resilience

Over the years, the approach to natural disasters has changed from response and relief to risk reduction, with policy focusing ...

23 Nov 2015 News
Multi-stakeholder Consultation Meeting for AdaptHimal Initiative in Khagrachari, Bangladesh

  The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) organised a multi-stakeholder consultation meeting in collaboration with the Khagrachari Hill Development Council ...

15 Jan 2020 KDKH
Disasters beyond boundaries: Experts agree on regional cooperation to build resilience in the Koshi basin

Water-induced hazards are common in the Koshi basin, and disasters can cross boundaries, as we saw with the late July ...