Poultry Science at NAAS Symposium in 17th Agricultural Science Congress 2025

For the first time, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) organized a dedicated symposium on Poultry Science, titled “Advances in Poultry,” during the 17th Agricultural Science Congress 2025 at Pantnagar. The symposium was successfully held on February 21, 2025, at Pantnagar Agricultural University, in collaboration with ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute (CARI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, and the Indian Poultry Science Association (IPSA), Bareilly.

 

The event was led by Dr. A.K. Tiwari, Director, ICAR-CARI, as the Convener, and Dr. P.K. Shukla, President, IPSA, as the Coordinator. The local coordinators were Dr. Anil Yadav,  Dr. Jaydip, and Dr. Gautham Kolluri.

 

Technical Session: Frontiers of Science & Technology for Poultry chaired by Dr. (Prof.) Kusumakar Sharma, and Dr. Simmi Tomar, General Secretary of IPSA, The rapporteurs for the session were Dr. M. Asok, Scientist and Dr. Amitav Bhattacharyya.

Dr. R. Prabhakaran, Former Vice Chancellor, TANUVAS, presented key note address on ‘Current Trends and Future Prospects of the Indian Poultry Industry,’ highlighting industry growth, current statistics, and future projections. Mr. Suresh Chitturi, Managing Director, Srinivasa Farms, spoke on ‘The Importance of Eggs for Vikshit Bharat,’ emphasizing the role of government and policymakers in addressing poultry farming challenges, Dr. Suresh Kumar Mittal, Professor of Virology, Purdue University, USA, delivered a talk on ‘Emerging Avian Influenza Viruses: Implications and Control Strategies,’ focusing on global avian disease threats and preventive measures.

A panel discussion moderated by Dr. P.K. Shukla, and Dr. A.S. Ranade.The discussion addressed critical industry challenges and proposed the following recommendations:

1.Promote Backyard Poultry – Encourage small-scale poultry farming, particularly in northern India, by establishing a strong network linking agricultural universities.

2.Encourage Diversified Poultry – Support farmers in adopting alternative poultry species to meet protein demands and enhance income.

3.Strengthen Biosecurity & Green Measures – Enhance disease surveillance, update biosecurity regulations, and address vaccine production and trade concerns.

4.Adopt Sustainable Feed Practices – Promote alternative feed ingredients, improve feed efficiency, and reduce dependence on resource-intensive crops.

5.Invest in Technology & Innovation – Strengthen research and development in poultry farming technology.

6.Develop Efficient Value Chains – Improve linkages between producers, processors, and consumers to ensure fair pricing and market access for small-scale farmers.

7.Integrate Poultry Science into VCI Syllabus – Establish poultry science as a separate department in veterinary colleges and increase course credits to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.

 

Distinguished Attendees

 

The panel discussion was attended by several eminent personalities, including:

•Dr. S.P. Kimoti, Member of Animal Science, ASRB, New Delhi

•Gauri Mulekhi, Representative, PFA, Uttarakhand

•Dr. Kamna Barkataki, Director, CPDO, Chandigarh

•Scientists from ICAR-CARI, Izatnagar

•Industry representatives from Bayer Pharmaceuticals and Dr. Nagesh, Senior Technical Manager, CARNUS Laboratories Pvt. Ltd.

 

The symposium witnessed enthusiastic participation from scientists, students, farmers, and industry representatives across the country. The event successfully provided a platform for knowledge sharing and strategic discussions, paving the way for future advancements in India’s poultry.