Says livestock plays an important role in the rural economy and household income.
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday launched cow induction, gift milk and market support initiatives of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED).
Gift milk initiative of NDDB aims to address malnutrition among schoolchildren by providing 200 ml of flavoured milk fortified with Vitamin A & D every day.
Unveiling the programmes virtually from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said livestock plays an important role in the rural economy and household income. India has a diverse range of livestock breeds and all those breeds have contributed to the rich agricultural heritage of the country. To support and promote livestock, several measures and policy efforts have been taken by the government for breed development and genetic upgradation of livestock, she added.
Murmu said India’s achievements in the field of milk and milk products are extraordinary. The productivity of the country’s milch cattle has also seen extraordinary growth in the last 10 years. All these achievements reflect the commitment to excellence in animal husbandry. Still, a lot can be done regarding animal health while appreciating the objectives and efforts of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission of NDDB.
The President said by paying attention to both the number and health of animals, the quality of food products and other products obtained from animals including milk will improve. A significant contribution can be made to building a healthy India by making such efforts in all areas of the country, she added.
Attending the programme at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state government has launched Kamadhenu Yojana, a scheme aimed at developing cattle wealth in the state. The initiative provides 70 per cent financial assistance to farmers for rearing indigenous cattle breeds like Gir and Sahiwal which are known for their high milk production.
In addition, the scheme includes insurance coverage for cattle and buffaloes, offering financial security to farmers. The state government bears 85 per cent of the insurance premium, making it more accessible to farmers, he addded.
NDDB launched the Rashtriya Gokul Mission to provide improved breed dairy cows to beneficiaries in Mayurbhanj district. It is supported by the promoting entrepreneurship in sheep/goat sector (PES) plan. Under the initiative, 3,000 high-quality dairy cows will be distributed across 26 blocks in the district of which 1,000 beneficiaries in Rairangpur sub-division will get one cow each.
The cows, sourced from Gujarat, are being distributed to dairy farmers in Mayurbhanj to improve the genetic quality of local cattle breeds enabling dairy farmers to produce higher quality milk to become self-sufficient.
Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Rajeev Ranjan Singh were also present.
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