Indian Veterinary Association, Kerala has proudly selected a versatile professional for its most coveted ‘Best Veterinarian Award’ for the year 2008. He is Dr. R.Venugopal, holding the office of Veterinary Dispensary, Vilappil, Thiruvananthapuram district. A post graduate in Animal Reproduction with a rich experience of serving the TRCPU/MILMA, he is a Life member of the Indian society for the study of Animal Reproduction (ISSAR). He has been radiating his professional brilliance in the Dept. of Animal Husbandry, for the past 13 years as a Veterinary officer as well as an excellent trainer for entrepreneurship skills at the Livestock Management Training Centre at Kudappanakkunnu.  

Dr. Venugopal has been a constant learner, keen in updating his professional knowledge through various national and state level programmes like training on laparoscopy (Madras Veterinary college), Trainers training (Manage, Hyderabad), National Seminar & Exhibition on Indian Animal Industry (New Delhi), National Symposium on modern trends in reproductive health care for livestock fertility and reproductivity (Maharashtra), Training on hospital management, modern diagnostics, therapeutics and Leptospirosis. The original research works presented by Dr.Venugopal in several of Kerala Science congress held at Kochi and Kozhikode are noteworthy.

The technical expertise and vision of Dr. Venugopal in the area of animal husbandry has been widely acknowledged through the various advisory positions held by him such as the member of the State level Instrument purchase committee (2004), the State level Technical Advisory Group (2007), the Livestock purchase committee for district livestock farm, Kudappanakkunnu (2006), Technical advisor for the goat farm of open prison, Nettukalthery and as farm consultant for various commercial farms across the State.

A man of excellent literary skills, he is a great motivator to the farmers through his various on-screen as well as off-screen (script writing) presence in visual media. The programmes on successful dairying, Mastitis Control & FMD Control (Krishidarshan), the episodes of ‘Mannu’ (Kairali People TV) and some of the live talk shows (Krishipadam) deserve special appreciation.

The year 2008 could witness the best of this dynamic Vet through a variety of people’s participatory entrepreneurship programmes in collaboration with NGOs and financial bodies among which, an ‘On-hand 5-day training on milking’ for women farmers in the hospital premises stands unique. The clear thinking, planning and organizational skills of this energetic professional is also evident in the successful implementation of the Ksheeradhara project with the cooperation of Kudumbasree mission & Vilappil Sevice Co-operative bank for a total plan outlay of 52.5 lakhs, ultimately enhancing the cattle wealth of the Panchayath. Dr. Venugopal has also become a role model to the veterinarians of the State in establishing a Model Dairy farm of 15 animals with all modern amenities in close vicinity to his office at VD, Vilappil. The farm set up as a demo project has milking machines, rubber mat flooring, automatic drinking facilities, ideal drainage and dung keeping system. The venture is recognized as a token of the true spirit of a Veterinarian towards instilling sufficient inspiration among farmers for taking up animal husbandry entrepreneurship programmes under his vibrant leadership. Well done, Sir! .......And let the glow of inspiration within you shine on for a brighter tomorrow............!