Minister calls for promotion of indigenous Ongole breeds

Hyderabad, Nov 3 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development D Purandeswari today called for immediate steps to protect the indigenous Ongole breed bull which os in the verge of extinction.

Speaking after conferring the prestigious 'M S Swaminathan Award' to Animal Scientist B S Prakash, she said though, the number of 'handsome' Ongole bulls had dwindled in India it was flourishing in countries like Brazil and doing well commercially.

''It is not the exotic breed like Jersey cows but indigenous breeds like Ongole bulls we need to support'', she asserted, urging the scientific community to contribute their mite.

The problem of global warming was looming large over Indian agriculture and livestock sectors, she observed, adding with water stagnating for over 45 days in paddy field, it was contributing to 27 per cent of global warming. Scientists should develop new varieties that could survive with lesser water, she added.

The methane gas emanating from 150 million livestock in the country was also contributing to 27 per cent of global warming, she said, urging the scientists to develop technologies to reduce gas emissions.

Ms Purandeswari said the country would not be able to achieve four per cent growth in the XIth plan period unless dairy and fisheries sector grew rapidly.

''We cannot remain complacent achieving 100 million tonne in milk production,'' the Minister opined, urging animal scientists to overcome the problem of infertility among livestock and increase the milk production significantly as the allied sectors, including dairy and fisheries which gave a helping hand to the farmers at times of crop failure.

UNI