Port Blair, August 21 — A two-day training programme on Artificial Insemination (AI) in goats was successfully conducted on August 18 and 19, 2025, at the Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Andaman & Nicobar Administration. The initiative aimed to enhance reproductive efficiency in goat farming and strengthen rural livelihoods through scientific breeding practices.
The training was led by Dr. T. Perumal, Senior Scientist (Animal Reproduction), and Dr. Prakash Bala, Principal Scientist (Nutrition), from CIARI’s Animal Science Division. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Eaknath B. Chakurkar, Director, CIARI, who emphasized the importance of adopting AI techniques to improve productivity and genetic quality in local goat populations.
On the first day, nine Senior Veterinary Officers (SVOs) participated in intensive sessions covering the principles and procedures of AI. The second day saw the involvement of 29 Veterinary Compounders, who received hands-on training in semen collection from bucks and insemination techniques in does. Practical demonstrations were conducted at the CIARI Goat Farm, followed by laboratory sessions on semen preparation, quality control, and preservation protocols.
The training was designed to equip field-level officers and para-veterinary staff with the technical skills required to implement AI in goats across the Union Territory. As part of its broader goat development strategy, the AH&VS Department plans to procure semen straws from superior breeds such as Beetal and Sirohi to upgrade local varieties and enhance meat and milk production.
This initiative reflects the Administration’s commitment to scientific livestock management and socio-economic upliftment of rural and tribal communities through sustainable animal husbandry practices.
