Animal Husbandry Minister Kusum Mahdele has praised Central schemes like National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre and Nation Gokul Mission for preservation, promotion and development of indigenous species and urged to established at least one National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre in Madhya Pradesh. She also urged for necessary Central assistance for cow-sanctuary established in Susner tehsil of Agar-Malwa district.
Mahdele was addressing a conference of States’ Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Development Ministers chaired by Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh at National Agriculutre Science Institute in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Mahdele suggested increasing number of cattle from 10 to 25 under Dairy Entrepreneur Development Scheme and unit cost prescribed by NABARD from Rs5 lakh to Rs15 lakh. She said that this will encourage trained unemployed youths to adopt dairy development. Expressing concern over adulteration in milk and milk products, Mahdele urged to ensure strict action to prevent this by amending Food Security and Standards Act.
Referring to report of National Farmers’ Commission, the Minister urged to provide loans at seven percent to cattle breeders, dairies and fish-farmers like that for agriculture and provide tax exemptions. She said that an information system should be evolved for spread of information about animal husbandry and fisheries on the lines of agriculture. She drew attention towards practical problems being faced in implementation of National Pashudhan Mission and remove them.