Gujarat milk output rises

Milk production in Gujarat has increased substantially in the year 2006, thanks to the concerted measures taken by the animal husbandry department, said Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, state minister for agriculture and animal husbandry.

Talking to Business Standard, Chudasama said: "The state has witnessed a substantial increase in the milk production in the last three years, especially in 2006. The credit goes to the measures taken by the animal husbandry department as well as the state government."

Between February 1, 2004, and January 31, 2005, the state produced 6,742 tonnes of milk, while the production increased to 6,940 tonnes during the period between February 1, 2005, and January 31, 2006.

The milk production increased by 378 tonnes in the period between February 1, 2006, and January 31, 2007, when the state produced 7,291 tonnes of milk, the minister said.

On the initiatives taken by the state government and the animal husbandry department, he said during 2006, the department treated 79.59 lakh ailing milk producing animals, vaccinated 160 lakh milk producing animals and organised 7,179 veterinery camps across the state. Besides, 3,134 animal health camps were organised in 8,865 villages, where 3,35,500 milk producing animals were treated.

As a part of Krishi Mahotsav, farmers and animal owners were made aware of the latest technical advancements in the field of animal husbandry, he added. The state government was adopting the latest technologies to increase the milk production and ensure overall growth of the animal husbandry sector in the state, he said.

The government is taking proactive steps to promote activities like semen donation and expanding veterinery services.

The government has allotted Rs 10 crore for organising Krishi Mahotsav this year, while last year it had spent just Rs 2.80 crore, he added.