Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has directed that the works being undertaken by the Animal Husbandry department for employment generation under the Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana should be reviewed at the state level on a monthly basis. The CM said this while chairing a review meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries department here on Monday. The CM also inaugurated the animal husbandry department’s toll free number 1800-120-8862 on the occasion.
Rawat said that there are considerable employment opportunities in the spheres of agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries. For this, the public should be made aware of the various works being undertaken by the department and the various government schemes. Focus should also be laid on how to increase the income of rearers through wool production and value addition for good use of wool. Regular monitoring should be done to ascertain which districts are doing well in poultry, dairy, wool production and other sectors along with districts where more work needs to be done. The department should make efforts to increase the annual income of farmers and cattle rearers.
Rawat said that cooperatives should be formed for increasing the income of cattle rearers so that they are able to enhance their profits through dairy production and its marketing. Special efforts are also needed for growth centres as they can play an important role in income generation through dairy products. The CM said that the state government intends to remove the load of fodder from the heads of women on which the animal husbandry department also needs to focus. Every year a number of accidents occur due to wild animals and when women fall while carrying fodder back to home. The department should focus on how to ascertain adequate food for milch cattle at home. Stating that women are working well in all spheres in the state, the CM said that better results will be achieved if they should are linked to skill development and other activities.
Officials informed that 523 beneficiaries had been provided loans by the department under the Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana. Among mountain states, Uttarakhand is ranked second in dairy production. Under the National Animal Disease Control Programme 17.34 lakh cattle have been vaccinated in the state. Under the National Livestock Mission, the Centre has released Rs 16.80 crore for 2020-21.
Reviewing the fisheries department, the CM said that funding should be increased for fisheries. He further said that trout farming should also be encouraged. Fisheries enable good income at low cost so people should be encouraged for it, he added.
State minister for Animal Husbandry, Rekha Arya, chief secretary Om Prakash, secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.
Tuesday, 24 November 2020 | PNS | Dehradun
