The Goa government has decided to allow dairy farmers to buy cows from Gujarat and coastal Maharashtra besides Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told the state Legislative Assembly today.
The state government will open the scheme for agents from coastal Maharashtra and Gujarat (allowing them to sell cattle to farmers in Goa), Parrikar told the House.
This would be in addition to Erode district in Tamil Nadu, from where the cattle are purchased and sold to the dairy farmers through cattle camps, held every Tuesday in Goa, he said.
In a written reply tabled on the floor of the House, he stated that all animals are currently bought in Goa from outside the state and sold to the farmers through cattle melas (camps) organised on government farms at Copordem and Dhat.
Advertisements would be issued in newspapers by May, calling bids from agents to supply the animals, he said.
The issue was raised on the floor of the House by Congress legislator Aleixo Lourenco Reginaldo, who expressed doubt over the credentials of the agents empanelled by the state government.
He pointed out that fake address was given by one of the agent, whose name was mentioned in the reply tabled on the floor of the House by the state government.
The Goa government skipped the traditional market of Kolhapur in Maharashtra since last year, opting for Erode in Tamil Nadu considering that the place is sea facing and shares environment similar to that of Goa.
Parrikar said his government is committed to increase the milk production in Goa, which is currently depending on the neighbouring states to suffice its daily requirement.
"There will be at least 12,000-15,000 youths who will be employed in the dairy business once the government attains a target of 3 lakh litres of milk per day," he said.
