Murrah exports generating huge revenue for Haryana

Chandigarh, June 25 (UNI) The demand for the Murrah buffalo is on the rise as the state earned a revenue of Rs 200 crore last year by the export of this breed, Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha told UNI here today.

The popularity of this high milk yielding breed of buffaloes is not just confined to the state of Haryana, but is even in great demand in developed nations including Australia, Canada and the US, he added.

The state government has put the consolidated information about Murrah buffaloes on the internet from where buyers and sellers can get detailed information about this breed online.

Mr Chatha said the national average of availability of milk was 227 grams per person per day, whereas in case of Haryana it was 656 grams. He added that people from different districts of the state were taking keen interest in rearing of this breed.

Recently, a farmer from Tohana town sold the Murrah breed for Rs 1.50 lakh to a trader.

He stated that nearly 450 lakh buffaloes were available in Karnal district alone, out of which two lakh buffaloes belonged to Murrah breed.

The rearing of these buffaloes is an important source of income generation for marginal and landless farmers and in this direction, various competitions were being organised from time to time by the Animal Husbandry department.

The state government had taken up the task of insuring the milch cattle for which 50 per cent premium was being paid by the government and the rest by the Animal Husbandry department. For protecting animals against foot and mouth disease, the veterinary doctors go from door-to-door for vaccinating the cattle.

For the unemployed youths of the state, the government had implemented the Mini Dairy Scheme under which loan was being provided for opening a dairy with ten buffaloes. The Animal Husbandry department was giving a subsidy of Rs 1000 per buffalo under this scheme.

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