Haryana to set up hi-tech mini dairy units

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, SEPT  21

The Haryana Government has decided to implement a scheme to set up hi-tech mini dairy units to provide opportunities of self employment to unemployed rural youth and further enhance the milk production in the state.

          While stating this today, a spokesman of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department said that under this ambitious scheme, it is proposed to establish dairy units each having three, five and 20 plus milch animals. Commercial banks would finance the commercial dairy units under agriculture finance programme. The marketing facility for milk is being provided by Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (HDDCF) and others in the State. He said that the department would assist these dairy units by providing free training to the suitable entrepreneurs.

It would also  sponsor loan applications to banks and  50 per cent  cost of insurance of dairy animals in the case of general and 100 per cent of the premium Schedule Caste beneficiaries would be borne by the department. He said that veterinary and breeding facilities would be available at farmers’ door steps and arrangement for marketing of milk through HDDCF would also be made.

          He said that subsidy on loan would be released to the financing bank on establishment of the dairy unit. Health certificate of the milch animals would be issued by the concerned Veterinary Surgeon. The department proposes to set up 100 units for 20 or 20 plus and 1100 units for three and five milch animals during the year 2013-14 in the State for which a sum of Rs. four crore has been  provided under the plan budget. Subsidy at a rate of 25 per cent admissible under the Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme of the Central government would be provided to the beneficiaries for the establishment of a hi--tech or mini dairy unit, he added.

He said that Haryana holds a special place in the field of milk production and it is aptly known as the 'Milk Pail’ of the country. More than 80 per cent of the State’s milk comes from buffaloes alone. The State is proud to be known as the home of one of the best buffalo breeds of the world that is 'Murrah'. He said that the buffalo has also been recognized to be the animal of the 21st century and thus underlines the significance of systematic improvement of buffaloes for enhanced milk production in the country. There is a great demand of this high yielding elite breed not only from within the country but also from abroad. Most of the States procure breeding stock from Haryana for upgradation of their low producing buffaloes. The State is quite conscious of conserving, improving and fast multiplying this unique genetic stock of buffaloes by promoting breeding activities in the State, he added.

He said that milk production in the State is 66.61 lakh metric tonnes out of which more than 80 per cent  is contributed by buffaloes. The per day per head milk availability in the state is 708 grams which is second highest next only to Punjab. According to livestock census-2007, the buffalo population in the state is 59.50 lakh and that of cattle 15.50 lakh. He said that the State has a vast potential of self employment generation in the sector of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Establishment of dairy units each  of three or five  or 20 or plus milch animals could generate substantial employment both direct orindirect. For setting up such units, loan is provided by the banks and subsidy by the state government.

          He said that generally one person gains full time employment by rearing two-three milch animals. Similarly, for unit of  five to 20 plus milch animals other members of the family also gain employment. The State is having a well developed infrastructure of veterinary institutions catering to the needs of the livestock owners providing veterinary services round-the-clock at their doorsteps. The State is also self-sufficient in fodder production and rich in human resources for providing training to the farmers as well as the field functionaries.

          He said that Animal Husbandry and Dairying  Department holds 11-day dairy training at every Sub Division in the State for the persons interested in setting up of dairy units. Animal husbandry is an integral part of agriculture and is a the major sector of employment. According to Livestock Census-2007, about 22.27 lakh families are engaged in livestock rearing alongwith agriculture. Out of these about 10 lakh families are drawing household income from this sector as major occupation, he added.

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