Haryana to set up hi-tech mini-dairy units

by Haryananewswire (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, JULY 2

Having the second highest per capita milk availability among the states, and known as the ‘Milk Pail’ of the country, Haryana has decided to administer dairying a hi-tech dose, and propel the milk revolution further in the state. The Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department has firmed up plans to set up 200 hi-tech mini-dairy units all over the state during the current financial year for which it has set apart a sum of Rs 2 crore.

          Giving this information here today, a spokesman of the department said that with a view to boosting milk and fodder production, and generating more jobs, dairies with 3, 5 and 20 plus milch animals each, would be set up in the state. The department, aided by banks, would lend every kind of assistance in setting up these units.

          Outlining details of the plan to set up dairy units, he said that while commercial banks would finance dairy units, the department would help in setting up these units with free training to entrepreneurs and sponsoring of their loan applications to banks. Besides, 50 per cent cost of insurance of dairy animals in general, and 100 per cent in case of those owned by Scheduled Castes (SCs), would be borne by the department. It would also provide veterinary and breeding facilities at the farmer’s door- steps. The subsidy on sanction of loan would be released in advance to bank, the spokesman added.

          He said that the farmers would be asked to set up dairy units within a time-frame of three months. Health certificate of milch animals would be given by the concerned veterinary surgeon. Subsidy at the rate of 25 per cent as admissible under the Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme of the Central Government would be provided to the beneficiaries.

          The department would also hold 11-day dairy training camp in every sub-division for those interested in setting up dairy units, the spokesman added.

         The per capita milk availability in Haryana is 680 gm per day which is the second highest, next to Punjab. Milk production aggregates 62.67 lakh metric tonnes out of which more than 80 per cent comes from buffaloes. The marketing facility of milk is provided by the Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (HDDCF) in the State.

          According to the Livestock Census-2007, the buffalo population in the state was 59.5 lakh, and that of cattle 15.5 lakh; and about 22.27 lakh households were engaged in livestock rearing along with agriculture. Out of these, about ten lakh families drew household income from this sector as their main occupation.