Gujarat Shows It Cares

The Animal Husbandry Camp at Limkheda – Krishi Mahotsav

Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the Animal Husbandry camp, Limkheda

Agriculture is a dependent activity. There is a clear symbiotic relationship with the nature, and more importantly, with animals. The long chain of ‘give and take’ that leads to the harvest has to be preserved to ensure that we achieve the desired agricultural growth and progress of the farming community. Gujarat realises the importance of this relationship, and thus the state machinery gears up every year for the flagship initiative of Gujarat – Krushi Mahotsav (Agricultural fest) under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

“If the people do not come to the government, take the government to the people!” the Chief Minister had said, and what we witness each year is the direct consequence of such powerful motivation.

 

In the blistering heat of more than 42 degrees in the tribal hamlet of Limkheda at Dahod district in Gujarat, it was remarkable to find ministers, officers, volunteers, doctors, agricultural scientists, farmers, veterinarians, all in readiness to witness the inauguration of this annual event.

Amongst a score of activities one may witness, the annual animal husbandry camp particularly showed Gujarat’s compassionate and caring attitude towards its animals. 

It was heart warming to see doctors, veterinarians and local people selflessly contributing through their skills in providing all the necessary treatment to the animals. 

A cattle affected by horn cancer (a rare form of cancer commonly unheard of) was being treated upon by a team of 10 doctors. It was touching to see the experts going into minute details to deal with the fractured wings of a peacock.  Instructional farms that take care of ageing, castration, body parts, care and management, floor spacing of animals were set up. It is worth mentioning here that ‘Instructional farms’ are the pioneer farms in India today originating from Gujarat.

“Gujarat’s proactive measures to protect its animals are on display in this mega camp” said Dr. N. M. Patel, who was preparing an Ultra Sonography to detect pregnancy in a horse. 

And truly so; it is through these simple yet definitive measures - taking care of every single element which, directly or indirectly, is a part of the farming activity - that Gujarat has been able to set an example of how to achieve a marvellous agricultural growth. 

Beat the Heat - the Smart Way

It's that time of the year again - sweltering heat, sweat, warm, dry winds, the sun at its angriest and tanning. But nature has been as thoughtful as She could get to replenish and make up for the dryness and dehydration the weather causes by providing bountiful supplies of fruits and vegetables substituting for what’s lost during summers.

As per inputs from Dr. Shailesh Sutariya and Dr.Shilpa Bhakare, Department of Health, Gandhinagar, there are a certain things to be borne in mind with the advent of summers:

Stay hydrated: Your body tends to lose a lot of fluids so drink a lot of water and other liquids such as coconut water to keep you well hydrated.

Use protection against the sun: Avoid stepping out in the sun between 11 am and 4 pm; that’s when its rays are likely to cause most damage. Also make sure you wear sunscreen 30 minutes before you step out at all times during the day.

Cover-up: Always use a scarf/cap to cover your head and wear shades to protect your eyes. Over-exposure to the sun may cause a heatstroke, so keeping covered is essential. One needs to take special care of young children.  The Body Mass Index (BMI) in children is not uniformly distributed as compared to their curved surface area; more so for children under five years of age.  As a result the body absorbs and releases heat at a relatively much faster rate compared to grown-up children/adults.

Wear loose-fitting clothes: Make sure you wear loose clothes to let your skin breathe by the circulation of air else you may be susceptible to developing rashes. Try and wear cotton clothes as far as possible.

Avoid eating outside: Avoid eating outside because you can’t be sure of the food’s freshness. Also avoid having chilled aerated drinks as the excess sugar content is harmful for the body.

Consume fresh fruits and veggies:Beat the scorching summer heat with watermelon that contains 95% water and electrolytes. Eat lots of leafy greens and cucumber to keep your body cool and make up for the loss of minerals due to heat.

There are always ways around overcoming the harshness of the weather – whichever season it be. Just take a cue from what is available in terms of natural, live food and tweak your diet regime a little and remain in the pink of your health.