From Our Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI: It is not a story of milk and honey for landlockedMeghalaya, rather it is question of milk and meat. Both in short supply !
Supply of both milk and meat is facing serious problem in the hillstate for a strange reason- deterioration of the genetic stock of the source animals- cows and pigs. On top of it, Meghalaya Government can not get fresh stock usually from United States and European countries because of the ongoing ban on import of the stock on cattle.
Two “progressive dairy farmers” from Meghalaya recently received awards from the Centre for their contribution in milk production, but the state’s production is not increasing as expected for strange reason- deterioration in the genetic value of cows in the state. Same problem has happened in case of pig, the main source of meat for Meghalayans.
The dairy farmers of Meghalaya are maintaining crossbreed of two varieties- Holstein Friesian and Jersey, both once originated in Europe.
“The state government cattle breeding farms are maintaining exotica breed of this two variety for pure and cross breeding purposes and for milk production,” Mr Bindo Lanlong, Deputy Chief Minister said adding “the genetic value of present stock has deterotiated .”
Moreover, there is currently a ban on import of cattle breed by the Centre for a number of reasons. Mr Lanlong requested the Government to lift the ban so that the state can get fresh livestock. The last import of cows and pigs was more than a decade and half ago, he pointed out.
Interestingly, these two foreign varieties could adapt to the cold climate of Meghalaya which is otherwise known as Scotland of East.
But the State Government is in doubt if milch cows like Sahiwal of Indian breed can adopt and resist to the climatic conditions of the state.
Sahiwal originated from the Sahiwal district of Pakistan, a dry region of Punjab which lies along the Indian-Pakistani border. They produce the most milk of all zebu breeds, followed by the very similar Red Sindhi and Butana breeds.
State has only one semen station but that too not yet graded, the Deputy Chief Minister said. The semen station maintains exotic bulls of Holstein Friesian and Jersy breed for collection of semen but more number of standard bulls are needed, he said.
The state now 80,000 tonnes of milk and expected to increase only by 2,000 tones in a year, Mr Lanlong in charge of animal husbandry ministry said. He was speaking at the State Animal Husbandry and Dairy Ministers’ Conference here last Friday where Agriculture Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar gave away Rashtriya Dugdh Utpadak Puraskar 2011 to 56 progressive dairy farmers selected from different States including Meghalaya.
The selection of dairy farmers was made by the State Governments in consultation with milk cooperative federations/unions. Criteria of selection included innovations, management practices, yield and breeding performance, fodder, health and farm mechanisation..
Addressing the function after honouring dairy farmers with awards, Mr Pawar said that it is the farmers’ hard work, persistence and experience gained over several generations that has contributed to India’s first rank in milk production in the world. He said, “The farmer, who toils to produce a few liters of milk will benefit only if he is assured of economic returns for the milk that he supplies.
Mr Lanong said that the state Government in order to encourage milk production is extending 50 percent of assistance for replacement of nonproductive cows. It is also persuading farmers to form more cooperative dairy societies and go for more artificial insemination.
The Government is also trying to increase number of pigs in the state through more pig breeding centres, Mr Lanlong said. Pig is the main source of meat for the people in social ceelbrations and even day today diet, he said.
Mr Pawar said, “The ingenuity of our farmers has led to the development of important crosses of cattle and buffalo with high genetic potential suited to our agro-climatic situation and production system.
Our dairy farmers’ efforts have been in the forefront of the cooperative movement, which has been instrumental in bringing ‘White Revolution’ to India.”
But at the same time Mr Pawar underlined the need to increase production and productivity for meeting the ever-escalating demand for milk, dairy products, meat and poultry.
The two farmers who received awards are- Armington Lapasam who supplies over 200 litres of milk per day to the Dairy Plant and PR Kharbteng who led the formation of Primary Milk Producers Cooperative society in 1990.