In a bid to enhance per capita availability of milk in the State, the Haryana Government would take assistance from the Israel Government. The State Government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Agency for International Development Co-operation, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MASHAV) for establishment of Indo-Israel Centre of Excellence at Hisar district.
A feasibility study for the proposed Centre of Excellence has already been conducted by Israeli experts. The centre of Excellence would be established in the already existing State Cattle Breeding Project at Government livestock Farm at Hisar. The establishment of the proposed centre would be 100 percent centrally sponsored, getting funds under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) atleast for the initial three years or till such time the infrastructural development of the Centre is completed. The initial projected cost of the Centre is Rs14.98 crore.
The MoU between the two Governments was signed at New Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Om Parkash Dhankhar and Charged ´Affairs, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi Yahel Vilan. “Haryana would enhance its per capita availability of milk with the help of Israeli techniques. Haryana is number one in terms of Murrah breed buffalo,” said Haryana Minister OP Dhankhar. He said, “Haryana Government is collaborating with Israel Government for boosting the dairy development in the state keeping in view the similar agro climatic conditions in Israel and Haryana.”
The major objective of the Centre of Excellence would be to establish a Model Dairy Farm through introduction, execution and demonstration of cost- effective and innovative dairy technologies of Israel accustomed to local conditions for achieving an intensive dairy production system matching the international standards in productivity as well as quality of milk, added the Minister.
Being a model demonstration unit for the farmers in the country, the Centre would help to motivate livestock owners and entrepreneurs to adopt newer, economically beneficial technologies and practices through live demonstrations, hands-on trainings, guided professional tours, education and capacity building programmes in addition to being a source of quality germ plasm, all under one roof. Initially, customised modern dairy sheds for 110 cows with a potential of expanding it to 300 cows, calves barnes, heifer sheds, feed centre, milking parlor, mini dairy plant, class room, visitors gallery and waste water treatment plant etc would be established under the project.