The Indian Society for the Study of Animal Reproduction, Assam branch, in collaboration with the State AH and Veterinary Department and World Bank project is organising a State-level seminar on

DHEKIAJULI

With the requisite expertise and manpower at its disposal, the State Zoo is toying with the idea of going for a scientific elephant enclosure that would not only help in managing the tuskers in captivity efficiently, but would also give the opportunity to the visitors to get a better look at the majestic creature.

The list of world's richest is never complete today without some Indians among the top. Forbes released yet another list on March 6, 2008 which saw India's Anil Ambani as the biggest wealth creator. As many as four Indians made it to top ten positions in the billionaire club as against just one, Lakshmi Mittal, a year ago. The other three were Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani and realty baron KP Singh.

There was a time when the entire Barpeta district was a reservoir of fishes like kawai, magur, rou, barali, etc. All the beels, wastelands and parts of Brahmaputra and its tributaries flowing through the district, were the natural habitat of these fishes. People of Barpeta have a history of consumption of fish. As the production was abundant surpassing the local demand it could have been exported to other parts of the State.

Cultivation of sugar-free potatoes is bringing good health to the farmers in around 19 villages of Nagaon. Now, this is not because the consumption of the same minimizes their risk of becoming diabetic, but because of the buy-back process in the contact farming system, which is fetching them Rs 6 per kg at a time when the other local potato growers in the State are struggling for a market, where they can get only Rs 3 per kg at bulk selling.

Professor Amartya Sen. in an article The Industrial strategy wrote recently that it is hard to do effective and secure income-raising without substantial industrial expansion. "This works not just through direct income generation but also through its indirect consequences in energising an economy and generating new skills'. Agriculture is primary requirement, but not the power house of skilled employment.

BOKAKHAT, April 18

The ambitious National Food Security Mission (NFSM) scheme has taken off in Karbi Anglong. As a part of its first experience, transplanting of rice under the NFSM scheme has been started in several areas in the district. Especially 10 hectare of paddy field of Langparpan and Borjan areas have been absorbed under the ambitious scheme for the first phase. Dr M Angamuthu, deputy commissioner, Karbi Anglong and chairman of the NFSM revealed launching the scheme that the Karbi Anglong hill district received Rs 65 lakh for the implementation of the project.

The irrigation department of Sivasagar district has been successful to a great extent in reviving some of the irrigation projects of the district leading to better productivity of rabi and pre-kharif crops. Although there are several Irrigation schemes in different areas of the district, most of the schemes were either in idle condition or in partially operative condition due to financial reasons. The initiative to revive the schemes came from Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner NM Hussain, who made funds available to the department from District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Sivasagar.