States will need about Rs 3,700 crore to implement National Action Plan for bovine breeding that aims to increase productivity of indigenous cattle, Animal Husbandry Secretary Devendra Chaudhary said today.
The National Action Plan (NAP) for bovine breeding envisages enhancing productivity of indigenous cattle to five kilo per animal per day. It aims to increase all India coverage to 70 per cent by 2019-20 from the present 25 per cent, he said.
The Agriculture Ministry in a statement said NAP has been discussed recently with the state governments, who have agreed to implement.
"... It was also mentioned that an amount of Rs 3,700 crore will be required by states to implement this National Action Plan," Choudhary said.
All states have agreed to implement NAP. State-wise physical and financial targets for different categories of dairy animals including indigenous cattle have also been discussed, he said.
The states have been asked to enhance milk production and productivity of dairy animals to double farmers' income.
They have been told to frame strategies to enhance productivity of indigenous breeds as indigenous cattle are managed by poor farmers of the country, he added.
The official has also discussed with the north eastern states separately about this year's state action plan to implement the Livestock Mission (NLM) for which the Centre has allocated about Rs 4,300 crore to these states for 2016-17.
In a recent meeting, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram have been directed to give their requirement for 100 piglets of superior germ plasm for each of their pig breeding farms in the state to National Research Centre on Pig, in Guwahati.
The states have been asked to come up with a plan for genetic upgradation for sheep, goat and pigs.
Chaudhary also emphasised the need of de-worming of existing population of small ruminants and pig population of the states, the official statement said.
The secretary has also reviewed the preparations for the National Action Plan, 2020, for fisheries from all the north eastern states.
Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura and Manipur have given information required for finalising the National Action Plan.
"While taking note of the requirements of each of the states, the Secretary has also issued directions based on the unique requirements of each of the state," the ministry said in the statement.
Sikkim has been asked to focus on cold water fisheries, especially trout, while Manipur and Assam have been directed to make special investments on the development of wetlands.
Further, Mizoram has been asked to pick up cage culture technology for their lone reservoir, with an area of 4,300 hectares.
"It is hoped that the special attention being given to the North Eastern region states will have a major impact with respect to the production of fresh water fisheries and will reduce their dependence upon the imports of fish in due course of time," the Ministry said.
