To improve the breed of the milch animals and control population of male animals to increase milk production in Uttarakhand, a Sex Sorted Semen laboratory-the first of its kind lab in the country- would soon be opened in Rishikesh. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Uttarakhand livestock Development Board and Inguran Sorting Technologies llP was signed in presence of the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Saturday. The MOU was signed by M S Nayal on behalf of Uttarakhand livestock Development Board and Prakash Kalarickal from Inguran Sorting Technologies, llP.
Speaking on the occasion, CM said that sex sorted semen laboratory would be first of its kind lab in the country. He said that the laboratory would usher in a positive change in the living conditions of the animals and help in augmenting the income of the animal keepers. Rawat reminded that it was the BJP Government which in its previous tenure had brought about the Bovine Protection Act. He said that the State Government is trying to ensure that by the year 2021, no bovine is seen wandering on the roads but they become source of livelihood of the farmers. He, further, said that ‘Gau Sadans’ would be set up before the Kumbh fair to shelter the stray cows. He added that for the protection of the cows, special squads have been constituted in Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
On the occasion, the CM released a book titled “Surabhi Kamdhuk” brought about by the State animal husbandry department. He also felicitated some cattle rearers.
The Minister for women welfare and child development Rekha Arya said that Sex Sorted Semen laboratory would be set up at Deep Frozen Semen Production Centre, Shyampur, Rishikesh. She further said that semen from the centre is supplied to 15 States of the country. Arya emphasised the need to give more information to the farmers about sex sorted semen technology.
Among others present were the Minister of State for higher education and co-operatives Dhan Singh Rawat, Dharampur MlA Vinod Chamoli and secretary Animal Husbandry R Meenakshi Sundaram.
The Project
The project under National Mission on Bovine Productivity of the Government of India aims to restrict the number of male animals and increase the number of female animals so that milk production is increased and the high-yielding milch animals are conserved. The Government of India has selected ten frozen semen production institutes in the country under the project. Incidentally, Uttarakhand is the first State to prepare the project and get Union Government’s approval. The main objective of the `47.5 crore project is to produce the gender classified semen of indigenous animals and to use it through artificial fertilization in cows and buffaloes for producing more female animals to increase milk production and restrict the number of male animals.