Business plan for livestock industry: Sahay

New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Minister of State for Food Processing Industry Subodh Kant Sahay today urged the scientists and experts of the livestock industry to provide a ''business plan', helping the government tap resources in this sector.

''If India could act on such a 'business plan' and tap the resources available in the agriculture and livestock sector, India would become a food factory of the world in the near future'', the Minister said while inaugurating the three-day Indian Animal Industry Exposition here today.

The Government, he said, will soon set up an independent regulatory authority and is mulling to come up with scientific panels in consultation with consumers, investors and industry.

He also maintained that for the livestock industry to prosper, the captains in the industry ought to update processing, marketing, health plan and farming in the country.

''Specific plans for all this should be chalked out. If such plans are executed, livestock sector would prove to be a big sector for providing employment to the farmers. The need of the hour, however, is to motivate the farmers to enter this segment for economic sustainability,'' Mr Sahay said.

The Minister said efforts are underway to make the livestock industry and the processed food products and Dairy items completely tax free.

The Minister said five year plan for poultry, dairy and meat sectors should be formulated so that proper hygiene and international standards could be maintained by the country.

Mr Sahay allayed fears of the people engaged in the livestock industry that the Centre was not giving attention to this sector.

Referring to the bird flu scare, Mr Sahay said the government was aware of it and taking all possible steps to stop recurrence of the deadly disease.

UNI