Farmers to Be Encouraged to Set Up Indigenous Cow Dairies, Says Minister

 Officials Must Ensure Availability of Improved Fodder Seeds for Dairy Animals: Shyam Singh Rana*

Chandigarh, October 14: Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana has directed officials to work towards ensuring the availability of improved fodder seeds for dairy animals in the state so that people can get good-quality milk. He also directed officials to explore the possibility of formulating a policy in this regard.

Sh. Rana was chairing a meeting of senior officials of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, LUVAS University, the Haryana Livestock Development Board and the Haryana Gau Seva Aayog at his office in Chandigarh. The meeting was attended by Sh. Vijay Singh Dahiya, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department; Dr. Prem Singh, Director; Dr. Vinod Kumar Verma, Vice-Chancellor of Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar; and other officials.

The Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister said that dairy animals should be fed fodder grown without the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. He stated that the use of DAP, urea and other chemical fertilisers in fodder cultivation could make the fodder toxic, potentially allowing chemical residues to enter the human body through milk. He directed officials to encourage livestock farmers to grow fodder using organic and natural fertilisers and to ensure the availability of improved-quality seeds. He added that a policy could also be formulated if required.

Sh. Rana further directed officials to prepare a subsidy-related scheme to encourage farmers to establish dairies for indigenous cows. He said this would help conserve and improve indigenous cattle breeds. He added that Jeevamrit, prepared using cow urine, could also be used as a natural fertiliser in organic and natural farming.

The Minister also directed officials to prepare a scheme for establishing “day-boarding animal hostels” on panchayat land for village cattle. Under the proposed arrangement, animals would be able to move freely within the enclosed premises during the daytime, similar to a pasture, while livestock owners could take them back home at night.

Sh. Rana also reviewed the Chief Minister’s announcements and budget announcements related to the department. He directed officials to ensure that all announcements are implemented within the stipulated timelines.