LONAVALA, 13 July 2025: In a move to modernise veterinary education and better align it with India’s growing animal husbandry and poultry sectors, a one-day Vice-Chancellors’ Conclave was held on July 7 in Lonavala.
Organised by the Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA)/Poultry India, in collaboration with Huvepharma, and co-hosted by Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (MAFSU), Nagpur, the event gathered academic leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders for a comprehensive discussion.
Themed “Dynamics of Veterinary Education Ecosystem to Meet Animal Husbandry Industrial Needs,” the conclave explored curriculum reform, practical skill-building, and greater academia-industry cooperation.
Delivering the keynote, Dr. Niteen Patil, Vice-Chancellor, MAFSU, emphasized the urgency of aligning educational frameworks with market realities. Panelists highlighted the need for competency-based learning, entrepreneurship modules, and interdisciplinary exposure within veterinary institutions.
Bridging the Talent Gap in India’s Livestock Sector
India’s livestock sector, which contributes 30.23% of agricultural GVA and 5.5% to GDP, is served by fewer than 68,000 registered veterinarians — far below the estimated demand of over 1.1 lakh.
Officials from the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) acknowledged this shortage and revealed plans for MSVE 2024, a revised curriculum under government review that aims to embed industry-relevant competencies into veterinary training.
Four thematic panel discussions provided deep dives into:
- Challenges and Opportunities in the Poultry Sector
- Dairy Sector Productivity and Tech Integration
- Optimising Small Ruminants and Allied Livestock
- Aligning Veterinary Institutions with Industry Demands
Prominent attendees included:
- Uday Singh Bayas, President, IPEMA/Poultry India
- Dr. Sandip Ingle, Vice President, VCI
- O. P. Singh, CEO, Huvepharma
- Vice-Chancellors of veterinary universities, ICAR directors, and senior policy officials
Poultry India 2025 Expo Announced
Bayas previewed the upcoming 17th Poultry India Expo, to be held from November 25–28, 2025, at Hyderabad’s HITEX, featuring 500+ exhibitors, 50,000+ visitors, and 35,000 sq.m of innovation showcases. A dedicated Knowledge Day for academia is scheduled for November 25 at Novotel, Hyderabad.
