The insurgency infested Gariaband district is heading for a White Revolution with 1,000 litres of milk being produced in the villages every day, officials stated. The district has a livestock population of about 3 lakh cattle. A special dairy development project was taken up in the district during November 2014. The prime objective of the project was to provide self-employment to the youth in the district.
The Gariaband Development Block now has three milk co-operative societies. There are four societies each also existing in Fingeshwar and Chura development blocks. This apart, the cumulative population of sheep and goat in Chhattisgarh stood at 33.91 lakh as per the 18th cattle census, Animal Husbandry Department officials here informed.
The State Government's Animal Husbandry Development Department conducted a State-wide vaccination drive last year to save goats from PPR disease (a disease caused in goats by viral infection) and have vaccinated nearly 29.30 lakh goats free of cost. Under this drive, total 1576 vaccination teams were formed that visited 17,255 villages across the State to vaccinate the goats.
In rural areas, people practice goat rearing for milk and meat. PPR is a major disease found in goat species. This disease causes death of 70-80 per cent of the goats suffering from viral infection. Symptoms of this disease include flu, reddishness on face, rashes, high fever etc. When this epidemic strike rural areas, the owners sell their goats on cheaper prices at a huge loss.
Officials told that during the last four years, Animal Husbandry Development Department has conducted a State-wide vaccination campaign to control this disease.
The Central Government has also included this campaign in the National Agricultural Development Plan of year 2012-13. Under this 12-day campaign, 1576 teams were formed and the State was divided into 216 sectors. These teams visited 17, 255 villages of Chhattisgarh to collect information about the disease. Meanwhile, 29.30 lakh goats were given anti-PPR vaccine.
With a view to augmenting livestock and milk production, an elaborate action plan will be prepared for the establishment of 5,000 dairies in Chhattisgarh during the next five years. In a departmental review meeting, Minister for Agriculture, livestock Development and Fisheries, Brijmohan Agrawal last year had stated that the State Government would open new diploma courses related to livestock and dairy development in Chhattisgarh.
While reviewing the Departmental schemes and programmes, Agrawal said that to make the farmers of the State financially self-reliant, they (officials) need to encourage for other job-oriented vocations like cattle breeding, fisheries, along with agriculture, which would bring them additional income.
Expressing his annoyance over the trafficking of cows in Chhattisgarh, the Minister said the law should be strictly implemented in the State to stop such illegal activity.
Agrawal directed to send necessary proposal for including Chhattisgarh in National Dairy Development Scheme. While reviewing the work done in perusal to the Government decision for opening ‘modern gaushalas’ in the 90 development blocks of the State, the Minister said that these ‘gaushalas’ have to be developed as ‘Model Gaushalas,’ considering them as integrated units of Agriculture and Veterinary departments.