Radha Mohan lays foundation of dairy plant at Motihari

Speed Post News Network

Motihari ( Bihar) :  Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh on February 13, 2018, laid the foundation for the first dairy plant at Motihari in East Champaran District in North Bihar.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said that India has reached such a stage that it is providing opportunities galore for the entrepreneurs at the international level. He said that the growth in the dairy sector is the result of the initiatives taken by the Government by implementing various schemes to increase productivity of milch animals. Singh said that India is the prime producer of milk and has been holding the number one position globally over the past two decades.

Milk production, which was around 17 – 22 million tonnes in the 1960s, has increased to 165.4 million tonnes in 2016-17, Singh said.  During the year 2016-17, milk production increased by 20.12% as compared to 2013-14.

Singh further said that the Per Capita availability of milk grew by 15.6% during 2016-17 taking it to 355 grams from 307 grams in 2013-14. Likewise, the income of the dairy farmers grew by 23.77% during 2014-17 compared to 2011-14. In the last three years, milk production in India grew by 6.3% every year surpassing the annual global growth rate of 2.1%, according to a PIB release.

The Minister also said that dairy farming has become a source of livelihood and food security at the rural level especially for landless and marginal farmers. About 80 million farmers are connected with the dairy business and they rear 80% of the total milch cattle.

Singh said that for the first time in the country Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched in December 2014 for the conservation and promotion of the indigenous breeds. Under the scheme, so far Rs 1,350 crore have been approved for the proposals from 28 states and Rs 503 crore had already been released. The Agriculture Minister said establishing Gokul Grams is one of the components of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Gokul Grams will act as a centre for the development of the indigenous species and will also supply animals to the farmers for breeding.

At present, 18 Gokul Grams have been established in 12 different states. Apart from this, the Government is undertaking the establishment of two National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres for the conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds in Chintaladevi, Nellore, AP,  and in Itarsi, Hoshangabad, in the Northern region. Out of the two, Chintaladevi Centre in Andhra Pradesh is complete. Under this scheme, 41 bovine breeds and 13 buffaloes will be preserved.