Haryana govt to spend Rs five crore for livestock improvement

Chandigarh, Nov 26 (UNI) The Haryana government has launched a comprehensive programme for the livestock so as to make the cattle free from foot and mouth diseases (FMD) and has earmarked a sum of Rs 5.07 crore during the current financial year for this purpose.

Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister H S Chatha today said that 2605 veterinary institutions were functional for providing medical services to 94.45 lakh animals in the state. ''On an average three villages had one veterinary institution,'' he said.

The per capita per day milk availability in the state was 660 grams which was the second highest in the country against the national average of 232 grams, he added.

Mr Chatha maintained that steps were being taken for the improvement of genetic stock with special thrust on preservation, multiplication and improvement of indigenous germplasm.sSpecial attention was being paid to the Murrah breed of buffaloes and Hariana and Sahiwal breed of cows.

He said that for improvement of Murrah germplasm, a sum of Rs one crore had been earmarked during the current financial year.

He said that to provide better medicare facilities to the farmers at their doorsteps for the livestock , as many as 198 new veterinary institutions had either been set up or upgraded during the last year. ''To provide medicines and life saving drugs in the veterinary institutions, a provision of Rs two lakh had been made,'' he added.

Similarly, Rs 16.24 crore had been earmarked for providing staff and infrastructure as compared to Rs 10.59 during the last year.

He said that two new Poly Clinics were being set up at Bhiwani and Sonepat and a Veterinary Training and Education Hospital at Panchkula was being opened. Apart from these, the government was also contemplating to open 60 new veterinary institutions shortly, he added.

Mr Chatha said that efforts were being made to promote avenues for export of livestock and livestock products by adopting measures towards supportive fiscal policy as well as hygiene and quality standards consistent with global trade regime.

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