Minister announces support for campus start-ups in Animal Husbandry sector

Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchurani has said the State government will provide comprehensive support to campus start-ups in the animal husbandry sector, establishing a model where students can earn an income while pursuing their studies.

She was speaking at the inauguration of the Animal Welfare Awards ceremony organised by the Animal Husbandry department at Sree Narayana College, Kollam, on Tuesday. “With the overwhelming influence of social media, many individuals are becoming detached from reality and these ventures serve as a vital tool to create social awareness about the diverse living beings that coexist with humans,” said the Minister. 

Ms Chinchurani further added that these student-led enterprises can include a wide range of species, from small white mice to large black ostriches, for revenue generation. She underscored the philosophy that the universe can only sustain itself if there is a harmonious coexistence between humans and other creatures. During the event, the Minister presented the Animal Welfare Award, which carries a purse of ₹10,000, a plaque, and a ceremonial shawl, to Johnson from Kureepuzha and Noufal from Nedumbana. M. Naushad, MLA, officially released dog breeding rules at the event. 

The programme also featured an extensive exhibition of pets and birds held on the college premises, showcasing a fascinating variety of displays. Attendees had the opportunity to see exotic species such as the giant Iguana, Madagascar hissing cockroaches, African ball pythons, and the giant Tarantula spider. The display further included Angora rabbits with their signature white silky fur, Conure parrots, Bobwhite quails, Sulcata tortoises, hamsters, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and various ornamental poultry. The event was presided over by M. Naushad, MLA, while District Animal Husbandry Officer D. Shine Kumar and Sree Narayana College Principal S. Laiju also spoke on the occasion.