Central aid for improving animal products in State sought
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Manipur Information Centre

New Delhi, September 16 2014: Govindas Konthoujam, Minister of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry of Manipur highlighted the acute shortage of key animal products in Manipur in the State Ministers Conference on Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries held at National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa here today with the Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh in the chair.

He said, "While our requirement of milk is around 2.80 lakhs MT per year in Manipur, our product is only 25% of the requirement.

We produce only 20% of the total requirement of 50 crores eggs per year.

In the case of meat production, we have a shortfall of 10% of the requirement of 35,000 MT per year" .

He drew the attention of the Union Ministry of Agriculture for giving all possible assistance to the State for improving and enhancing animal husbandry products.

Govindas expressed his happiness to the union government for approval of the project proposal for Conservation of Mithun by the Project Sanctioning Committee in its meeting held on 1-9-2014 with a cost of Rs 2006.70 lakhs for implementation under National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB).

He requested the Ministry for releasing the amount of Rs 650.00 lakhs earmarked for the current year to take up the scheme.

For implementation of the National Livestock Mission, Manipur Veterinary Minister said, "We have constituted the State Level Executive Committee and the State Livestock Mission.

Two projects namely-"Support to breeding Programmes under Sub-Mission on Pig Development in NER at Andro, Imphal East District" with a cost of Rs 942.00 lakhs and " Strengthening of State Piggery Farms" for our farms in Bishnupur and Churachandpur Districts with a cost Rs 100.00 lakhs have been prepared.

Andro village is inhabited by Scheduled caste people who are traditional pig rearers" .

He requested the Ministry to consider the two projects for approval.

He also informed the Ministry that the Government of India allocated a sum of Rs 502.00 lakhs for Manipur under the Mission and it had been revised downward to Rs 142.00 lakhs.

He requested the Ministry to reconsider the revision.

Govindas also drew the attention of the Union Minister of agriculture for establishment of an Animal Quarantine Station at Moreh in Manipur bordering Myanmar on priority.

He said that trade with Myanmar and other South-East Asian nations was expected to pick up in the coming years.

A quarantine station at Moreh would become indispensable for facilitating import and export of animals and animal products.

Manipur Veterinary Minister further stated, "The Manipuri cattle particularly the indigenous bulls and bullocks are stout with fully developed humps.

They are known for their draught power and resistance to disease.

They can thrive well in the various agro-climatic conditions even with inferior quality nutrition.

We are intending to take steps for conservation of the indigenous local breed of cattle by establishing an Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centre in Thoubal District in Manipur with a cost Rs 500.00 lakhs".

He requested the Ministry to extend the assistance under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

Referring to the animal health control, Govindas stated that Manipur was quite sensitive as it was bordering Myanmar.

Entering of trans-national diseases into the State from across the border was always possible.

For the year 2014-15, the State Government had submitted a proposal with central share of Rs 659.05 lakhs for implementation under the Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD).

Vaccination against the anti-rabies and endoparasite control of cattle and buffaloes were also included in the proposal.

Govindas informed that that during the year 2011-12, the Government of India approved the construction of 75 veterinary institutions with the central share of Rs 857.25 lakhs; and released a sum of Rs 428.00 lakhs.

Another sum of Rs 91.20 lakhs was released towards the end of 2013-14 and the balance amount of Rs 338.05 lakhs was not yet released.

He urged the Ministry to release all pending funds for implementation of schemes.

Comment