Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperative Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey has said that very soon the animal market will be started at block level. Its objective will be to provide good breed cows or other animals to farmers at reasonable rates.
Tirkey said that the department will also release a calendar related to the scheme. Animal rate chart will also be issued to make the purchase and sale of animals in the animal market transparent, she added.
The Minister said this during his visit to his assembly constituency Mandar on Tuesday. She inspected the milk collection and chilling plant in Karge, Banjhila, Mahua Jari and Cambo of Mandar assembly constituency. During this, officials of Jharkhand Milk Federation were also present.
Tirkey instructed to take care of cleanliness and safety during the inspection of Karge milk collection and chilling plant.
A large quantity of milk is collected in this plant. During the inspection, the farmers reiterated their demand to reduce the rate of Medha Dana for cattle feed by Rs 5.
The Minister also sought information from the departmental officials about the fodder cutting machine. He also instructed them on how to make the fodder cutting machine available to the farmers.
During the inspection, the farmers also spoke about irregularities in the distribution of cows. The Animal Husbandry Department has a plan to give animals to ST/SC and widows at a subsidy of 90 percent. Whereas for the general category, this subsidy is 75 percent. The farmers allege that the benefit of subsidy is given to them by fixing a rate higher than the market price.
Tirkey has assured the farmers that this will not happen now. "Along with this, the rate chart of the animals given by the department will also be made public. The department will issue a calendar for the farmers regarding the Pashu Dhan Yojana. All kinds of information related to the scheme will be available in this calendar," she added.
Farmers complained to the Minister about the high mortality rate of cows brought from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Farmers requested Minister Shilpi Neha Tirki to provide local cows. Farmers have demanded to increase the number of Gokul Bhawans so that the quantity of milk collection can be increased.
The Minister has asked the farmers to participate enthusiastically in the training program conducted by the department. Farmers who have received training will get more help in taking advantage of the schemes of the department and getting employment opportunities, she said.