Lucknow, July 31 (Inditop.com) The Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district is all set to launch an FM radio channel that would inform farmers about new technologies and methods for efficient livestock management, an official said Friday.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has given IVRI the green signal for the launch of the radio channel and has earmarked financial assistance of Rs.1.5 crore (Rs.15 million) for setting up a radio station on the institute’s premises.

“The project related to the radio channel has been undertaken by the IVRI’s Joint Directorate of Extension Education,” institute’s joint director Risendra Verma told IANS.

According to IVRI scientists, the radio programmes would be aired in simple Hindi in association with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

“The radio programmes would focus on dairy farming, goat farming, fish culture, poultry and other livestock practices, with a special emphasis on livestock diseases, symptoms and treatment,” said a senior scientist of IVRI.

He said: “We believe our programmes would immensely help farmers and enable them to diversify their income sources.”

Even as no deadline has been fixed for launching the radio channel, IVRI sources said it might start functioning by the end of this year.

Established in 1889, IVRI is one of the premier research institutions dedicated to livestock research and development of the region.

One of the oldest research institutions of South-East Asia, IVRI has a strength of more than 350 faculty members engaged in research, teaching, consultancy and technology transfer activities.