Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu on May 20, 2019, lamented the neglect of the indigenous Ongole cattle breed and called for protecting and promoting the animal, which has become popular all over the world.
Releasing a Compendium on Ongole breed of cattle at Swarna Bharat Trust at Vijayawada, the Vice President asserted that cattle wealth was national wealth and pointed out that Brazil which has imported these cattle and produced hybrid Ongoles was earning huge revenue through export. ‘Unfortunately, India is not focusing enough attention on our own breed,” he added.
Naidu said the time has come for promoting Ongole cattle breed in a big way and also take up research on the animal, which is known for its toughness, high milk yield, tolerance to tropical heat and disease resistance. The 1,200-page Compendium traces the history of the animal from 1885 to 2016 by providing information from 13 books and 80 research findings on Ongole Cattle. Lauding the efforts of Agricultural scientist Mullapudi Narendranath and former Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Adusumilli Madhusudan Rao, for compilation of the Compendium, he felicitated them.
The Vice President also wanted the officials to expedite the works at National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre, Chintaladevi in Nellore District, which was set up when Naidu was the Union Minister.
Observing that agriculture was facing many challenges, the Vice President stressed the need for multi-pronged efforts from all stakeholders to double the income of farmers by making agriculture sustainable and profitable. He urged farmers to take up backyard poultry and in house dairy for fetching additional income.
Naidu also inaugurated a medical camp organized jointly by Aayush Hospitals, Rainbow Hospitals, and Shankara Netralaya on the premises of Swarna Bharat Trust and cautioned people against the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases due to life style changes. Underlining the importance of maintaining proper lifestyle by undertaking regular physical exercise, yoga and consuming healthy diet, he warned that eating instant food would lead to constant diseases.
Touched by a news item describing the manner in which a differently abled girl Saisree overcame her handicap and scored a good rank at the SSC exams, Naidu invited her parents and the girl to the Swarna Bharat Trust and presented a cheque for Rs 50,000, which comprises Rs,25,000 from his salary and another Rs 25,000 donated by his son Harshavardhan on behalf of Muppavarapu Foundation run by his family members and promised her parents further help if they continue to support her in her studies, according to a PIB release.