(Photographs by Imteyaz Ahmed)

Satish Aditya
Motihari : Bihar Governor Fagu Chauhan while inaugurating a big Pashu Arogya Mela ( Animal Health Fair)  on February 18, 2021, on the campus of Krishi Vigyan Kendra  (KVK) at Piprakothi near Motihari  in East Champaran District in North Bihar said that many
animal husbandry  schemes were being implemented in the state by the government to prevent livestock diseases. The two-day Animal Health Fair has been organised byKrishi Vigyan Kendra ( KVK)  in which more than 1,000  cow and  buffalo were  given first aid  and vaccinated against different diseases by veterinary doctors.

Addressing  a farmers’ meeting on KVK campus on the occasion, Governor Fagu Chauhan said that the  farmers are the backbone of the
country and  the government has taken various steps  to improve their  economic conditions. He said that the yield of the most of the crops was  low and there is considerable scope to raise it. Integrated  farming with  Horticulture, plantation, goat, pig, hen, duck ,cow  , and buffalo,  rearing can boost the  income of farmers, Governor Chauhan said.

Governor Chauhan also laid the foundation of  Centre for Excellence of Bovine Breeding Administrative and Residential Building here,  which will be completed  at a cost of  Rs 20 crore. He said that to preserve and improve  genetic potential  of cattle like cow and buffalo, the state already has Artificial Insemination (AI) facility for low yielding cow.

The BJP MP from Purvi Champaran and former Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said  that India  has become  largest milk producer in the world. The annual  growth in milk production will increase to 9 %  by 2022 from the current 7 %, the BJP National Vice-President said. Several  initiatives  have been taken by the government to boost the dairy sector in states. Milk output of India stands  at 175 million tones in 2021, Singh added.

Bihar Sugarcane Industry Minister  Pramod Kumar and Animal Husbandy & Fisheries Minister Mukesh Sahni also  addressed the  the farmers on the occasion.