On off campus training programme on "Extension Skills for Supply and Value Chain Management in Livestock Products" from March 19th – 22nd, 2025, at EEI, Hyderabad.

The Extension Education Institute (EEI), Hyderabad, organized an off-campus training program titled "Extension Skills for Supply and Value Chain Management in Livestock Products" from March 19th – 22nd, 2025, at EEI, Hyderabad. The program aimed to enhance participants' understanding of livestock supply and value chain management, which encompasses the entire process from farm to consumer, ensuring efficient resource allocation, value addition, and market access for profitability and sustainability. A value chain in livestock refers to the sequence of activities involved in bringing products like meat, milk, and eggs from the farm to the consumer, including production, processing, storage, transportation, and distribution. The supply chain focuses on the logistics and flow of materials and products, while the value chain emphasizes how value is added at each stage. Key actors in the livestock value chain include producers (farmers raising livestock), processors (companies handling slaughtering, milk processing, or product preparation), traders/collectors (who transport livestock to processors or markets), distributors (handling transportation and storage of processed products), retailers (selling to consumers), and consumers (who purchase and consume livestock products). The training program covered various topics, including value chain analysis and traceability, supply and value chain management of feed, fodder, immunologicals, and food in poultry, government schemes and initiatives in the animal husbandry sector, management of export-quality regulatory frameworks in the livestock value chain, addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through proper supply and value chain management, blockchain technology in livestock product marketing, extension strategies for enhancing supply and value chain management, and practical exposure through field visits to operational livestock units. An ice-breaking session was conducted using interactive activities such as passing the ball and balloon pricking games, helping participants get to know one another and setting a positive tone for the training. As part of the field visit, participants visited practically operated dairy units at the College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, and Sid’s Dairy Farm, Shamshabad. The College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad, under P.V. Narsimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University (TSVU), provided hands-on exposure to dairy technology, engineering, microbiology, chemistry, business management, husbandry, and extension. Sid’s Dairy Farm, founded in 2013, is committed to providing natural and antibiotic-free dairy products without preservatives or harmful adulterants. Participants were impressed by the farm’s stringent quality standards and commitment to natural, unadulterated dairy products, emphasizing health benefits through fresh-from-farm milk and dairy products. During the inauguration, Dr. M. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Director, EEI, emphasized the crucial role of effective supply and value chain management in livestock for ensuring efficient production, quality, and profitability, ultimately benefiting farmers, consumers, and the industry. He highlighted the importance of value chain analysis in understanding market dynamics, stakeholder relationships, and key constraints that impact livestock production growth and farmer competitiveness. He also elaborated on supply chain management's role in streamlining the flow of livestock products through production, procurement, processing, packaging, transfer, and sales, ensuring waste reduction, standardized product quality, and consumer satisfaction. During the valedictory session, Dr. R. Vasantha, Professor, EEI, encouraged participants to explore ethnoveterinary practices, which involve traditional and indigenous knowledge in animal healthcare. She emphasized their importance in preventing adulteration and enhancing traceability in livestock products. She further urged participants to apply their learnings at the farmer level and to submit reports on the training's impact for EEI’s documentation. Participants expressed their appreciation for the program, stating that they gained valuable insights into supply and value chains, ways to improve value chains, and strategies to enhance farmer incomes through scientific approaches. They acknowledged that the training provided a holistic perspective on efficient livestock supply and value chain management and helped them develop extension skills to support farmers and unemployed youth. Many noted that the program opened new pathways for employment generation and sparked innovative thinking. A total of 27 trainees from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Telangana State, participated in the program, which was coordinated by Dr. D. Shireesha, Assistant Professor, EEI, Hyderabad.