AP to launch schemes to boost milk, meat prod

Hyderabad, Sep 18: Andhra Pradesh will launch several new initiatives to boost milk and meat production in the state, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy said.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Dr Reddy said the dairy farmers in the state would be given loans, at just three per cent interest, to acquire high-yielding milch animals.

Besides providing 32,000 milch animals to small and marginal farmers this year, the government would provide one lakh milch animals to SCs and STs to augment their income, he said.

The government had earmarked Rs five crore for setting up 20 model sheep market yards, he said adding 50 per cent subsidy would be provided to farmers to purchase 10,000 artificially inseminated calves.

The farmers would be charged only Rs ten for artificial insemination of milch animals as against Rs 20 now, he added.

UNI