Ampati, July 24: The Chief Minister Dr.Mukul Sangma today distributed high yielding variety of cattle to five SHG partners of Betasing C&RD Block in South West Garo Hills under the ambitious Livestock Mission of the Government at an impressive function at Ampati on Monday.
The programme for distribution of dairy cows was organized by the AH & Veterinary Department in collaboration with Basin Development Unit, South West Garo Hills and was also attended by Chairperson, Meghalaya Resources & Employment Generation Council, Dikkanchi D. Shira, Chairperson, State Development Reforms Commission, Bluebell R. Sangma, CEM, GHADC Boston Marak, Deputy Commissioner C.V.D.Diengdoh, host of district officials, veterinarians and dairy farmers among others.
10,000 families in the state, 5000 families from three blocks of Garo Hills and 5000 from three blocks of Khasi-Jaintia Hills, will benefit from the Dairy Farming scheme wherein high milk yielding variety of Holstein Friesian (HF) cattle are being given to the dairy farmers on a cluster approach. The scheme is aimed at creating livelihood opportunities for the rural farmers
Stressing on the need to create livelihood space for all sections of the population, the Chief Minister said that dairy is the fastest growing sector which can open up a lot of ancillary activities and take care of the issues of unemployment in the State. He said that the government is striving hard to reverse the trend of rural to urban migration in search of opportunities and ensure livelihood opportunities in their own backyards. “Dairy farming has evolved with technological interventions and we want to make it attractive and ensure a sustainable model for economic prosperity”, he added.
He informed that a lot of comprehensive interventions have been taken up by the government to provide livelihood opportunities and dairy farming was part and parcel of the Livestock Mission, an ambitious programme of the government implemented in convergence with Veterinary and Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP).
The Chief Minister also informed that HF breed of cattle had withstood the test of time and has been found to be suitable to be reared by farmers in the State. The breed can yield up to 40 litres of milk per day and generate minimum income of Rs.16,000 per month, if the animal is properly nurtured.
He assured the farmers that the Government would extend support for collection of milk, distribution and further value addition for production of different milk products, adding that there would be continuous handholding support to the farmers as well as capacity building trainings for value addition of milk products. “We would train our youth and farmers to produce handmade chocolates, cheese and other dairy products in Garo Hills”, he said and urged upon the youth to take advantage of the livelihood activities that would revolve around dairy farming.
Highlighting on the economics of dairy farming, the Chief Minister himself gave useful tips to the farmers for rearing of these breed of cows to ensure their success.
Deputy Commissioner CVD Diengdoh, CEM, GHADC Boston Marak, Joint Director, AH & Vety, Dr. A. Bose and District Veterinary Officer, Dr. P K Marak were among others who also spoke on the occasion.
