Centre keen to fund ‘Meghalaya Piggery Mission’: Balyan

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 27, 2019

SHILLONG: Union Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries Sanjeev Kumar Balyan has assured financial support to the state government for promoting pig rearing in the state through its unique project – ‘Meghalaya Piggery Mission’. 

Balyan arrived here on his first visit to the state to have a stock of the activities and schemes under the ministry which are being implemented in the State. 

“I have come here to discuss about this project because the ministry is keen to sanction this project to help the Meghalaya people in piggery development,” Balyan told reporters at the sidelines of an interaction with doctors, farmers and officials of the department here on Saturday. 

The state government has proposed Rs 220 crore for implementation of the mission in its detailed project report (DPR) submitted to the National Cooperative Development Corporation and the central government. 

Terming the mission as a unique project, Balyan said “In this project there will be around 300 farms across the state which will be managed by cooperative societies. This can be replicated in other parts of the country as well.” 

He, however, advocated the need to encourage entrepreneurship in addition to cooperatives for the success of animal husbandry as a viable means of livelihood. 

Earlier in his speech, secretary in charge AH & Veterinary department Dr C Manjunatha said there is huge shortage in livestock production in Meghalaya as well as in other meat consumption states in the North eastern region. 

“Though pig rearing is being traditionally practiced in the state but yet pork has to be imported from Punjab as there is a shortage of 1,000 ton of pork,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the union minister also lauded the efforts of the state government in promoting milk production and said that the amount given to the milk farmers by the Meghalaya government is the highest in the country, i.e Rs 42/litre. 

He however expressed his concern over the high feed cost that the farmers have to bear in the state; and the minister assured the farmers that he will request ICAR to find out solutions to produce cheaper feed. 

Earlier, the union minister also visited Pig and Poultry Farm and Intensive Cattle Development Programme (ICDP) at Upper Shillong and interacted with doctors, farmers and officials. 

While visiting the ICDP Central Semen Bank, Upper Shillong, Balyan said that the percentage of Artificial Insemination is 5.26 percent in regards to cattle rearing which is very low as compared to the national level which is 30 per cent. 

While acknowledging the huge potential for dairy and animal husbandry in the State, he said that the farmers can make a good income if they make good use of the potential. 

The union minister, while adding that there is a huge market for the products in the State, said that a lot is still to be done to cater to this demand. 

“Still a huge percentage of the requirement of piggery and poultry are being imported from other States, we have to work for making Meghalaya self-sufficient,” he said.