Slaughter ban: Blessing in disguise for M’laya

SHILLONG: The central ban on cow slaughter may have created ripples in the State but it can become a positive catalyst in cattle farming in Meghalaya.
Officials in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said this is an opportunity for farmers in the State to take up cattle rearing in a large quantum since a huge market for beef is already available in Meghalaya.
The officials said the recent ban would definitely lead to a shortage of beef in the State as cattle are largely imported from outside. To fill up the void, local farmers can start rearing cows, they added.
In fact, many farmers are approaching the department to enquire about cattle rearing after the notification.
The officials sounded optimistic about Meghalaya becoming self-sufficient in cattle rearing because the State is “almost self-sufficient in poultry and broiler”. “Many poultry farms have come up in Ri Bhoi and in a couple of years, Meghalaya will no longer have to import poultry,” they said.
The State has around 1 million cows but the number needs to be scaled up, the officials informed.
The demand for beef across Meghalaya is 23,634 metric tonnes as per 2015-16 data, while beef production in the State is only 12,834 metric tonnes and 10,800 metric tonnes are imported.
The department is likely to propose a scheme for rearing male calf for meeting demand for beef.
While noting that slaughtering is a state subject and the Centre cannot intervene in it, an official said as a solution to the problem post central notification, the State should “simply ignore the notification and move the Supreme Court to get a stay on it”.