Farmers and rural herders in Jharkhand are increasingly turning to animal husbandry as a promising source of additional income, an official said on Wednesday.
It gives them protection against crop loss due to the changing climate of the last few years.
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Jharkhand experienced drought-like condition for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023. The state government had to declare 226 blocks as drought struck in 2022 and 158 blocks in 2023.
The state has recorded normal rainfall in this monsoon season after two years.
The Hemant Soren-led government has been providing significant assistance to promote animal husbandry as a promising source of additional income.
For this, the government launched the Mukhyamantri Pashudhan Vikas Yojana (MPVY), which aims to increase the production of milk, meat, and eggs, thereby reducing the gap between demand and supply.
“Amid climate change, our farmers need to diversify their farming. The state has a huge demand for milk and meat but they are imported. Our government is working to meet the needs by encouraging farmers,” said Prime Minister Hemant Soren. on Apke Yojana, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar event last month.
He said farmers can increase their income by raising livestock. The government also supports them a lot, he said.
MPVY offers several important benefits including grants and subsidies for the purchase of livestock, access to veterinary care and skills development programs in animal husbandry.
Mr. Bhuvenshwar Singh, who benefited from MPVY of Ranchi’s Mandar block, said that he got three cows under this program and the number of cows has increased to five now. “Due to the increase in livestock, my income has also increased,” he said.
Another beneficiary Sanatan Singh said he was selling milk in the area but did not get the actual price. “Now I sell milk to Medha dairy, which is run by the Jharkhand Milk Federation, and I get real value by transferring the profit directly,” he said.
Under this scheme, more than 1.56 lakh beneficiaries have been given grants and subsidies, while the same process for 90,226 farmers in 2024-2025 is ongoing. The government has also drawn up a policy to ensure the availability of animal insurance in the province, said the official.
In an effort to provide better veterinary care services at the doorstep of livestock farmers, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand on September 10 launched 236 veterinary units (MVUs).
The MVUs, which are modern ambulances, have basic medical facilities, check-up facilities and will have veterinarians and paramedics, the official said.
“The government is working to empower the farmers of the state. Although it puts a special focus on agriculture and allied sectors, the government has taken important decisions and made policies in the last four and a half years,” said Soren program.
(Only the headline and image for this report may have been reused by Business Standard staff; other content is automatically generated from the trade feed.)
First published: October 09 2024 | 11:55 AM IST
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