NEW DELHI, February 18 (MIC): Manipur Minister of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Govindas Konthoujam today requested the Union Minister of Agriculture Radhamohon Singh to strengthen the Central Agricultural University at Imphal, to provide more subsidy to Black Rice Farmers in Manipur, introduction of Scientific and Modern technology for fish farming in Loktak Lake, establishment of Animal Health Monitoring and Surveillance System in all the border Towns of North Eastern States with a quarantine Station each.
He was speaking at the 86th Annual General Meeting of theIndian Council of Agricultural Research on Thursday at National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa here. Union Minister of Agriculture Radhamohan Singh was in the chair.
Govindas Kongthoujam stated that Animal Husbandry and Dairying was an important component of rural livelihood and it played an important role in the economy of the state of Manipur and of the country. The Manipur Government was endeavouring to improve the situation in the sector with the assistance of the Central Government. He pointed out that the State was facing the annual deficit of 4.767 thousand MT of Meat, 1978.49 thousand MT of Milk and 374.49 lakhs of Egg as per report of 2013-14.
He further stated that efforts had been made to bridge the gap between demand and supply through dairy, piggery and poultry development schemes under National Mission for Protein Supplement (NMPS) and National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).
Under National Mission for Protein Supplement (NMPS), the State Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry was procuring 1380 numbers of 2-3 months old improved piglets for distribution to 460 BPL beneficiaries of the State and a Farmers Training Centre was being constructed for facilitating refresher training of Livestock Farming during the year 2014-15, he added.
He mentioned that under National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB), the State Department submitted a Project proposal for a sum of Rs.2460.67 lakhs. However, in the Project Sanctioning Committee (PSC) meeting held on 1-9-2014 a sum of Rs.2006.70 lakhs was approved for implementation of NPBB and a sum of Rs.650.00 lakhs was released during the year 2014-15 under the Scheme.
He said that under National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), a sum of Rs.2.00 crores was released to the Manipur Milk Producers`™ Co-operative Union which was the State Implementing Agency through the Department of Co-operation, Government of Manipur. He mentioned that the Manipur Milk Producers`™ Co-operative Union Ltd. had executed an MoU which authorised to utilise the land, infrastructure, equipments & machineries including manpower of the State Veterinary Department with the payment of Pay & Allowance by the State Veterinary Department till the Union had been self-sustainable, whereas, the Union had also agreed to levy a sum of Re.1/- per litre of Milk as a Royalty to the State Veterinary Department.
He referred to the guidelines of Government of India for formation of the Technical Management Committee (TMC) for NPDD which prescribed as, `NPDD: Technical Management Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary in-charge of Dairy Development of the State, shall be constituted with membership from the Departments of Planning, Finance, Veterinary, Dairying Development, State Dairy Federation/District Milk Union, Project Director of DRDA of the respective State Government. There shall be one member from DADF, GoI representing the scheme in TMC shall be organised after every six months (September and March) to review progress of technical, physical and financial parameters and remove bottlenecks quickly.`
But, the Government of India had released the sum of Rs.2.00 crores through the Department of Co-operation, Government of Manipur which was irrelevant. He drew the attention of the Union Minister of Agriculture Government of India to look into the method of the release of fund as per guidelines prescribed under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).
Manipur Veterinary Minister said, `The Manipuri Cattle particularly the Bull & Bullocks are stout with fully develop hump and are known for its draught power and resistance to disease, they can thrive well in the various agro-climatic condition with inferior quality nutrition`.
The State Department took up for conservation of these indigenous local breed of cattle in Thoubal District, Manipur with an outlay of Rs.500.00 lakhs.
He drew the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture for approval of the project proposals for a sum of Rs.942.00 lakhs for Support to Breeding Programmes under Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North Eastern Region at Andro in Imphal East District, and a sum of Rs.100.00 lakhs for Strengthening of State Piggery Farms in Churachandpur and Bishnupur Districts.
He also drew the attention of the Centre for control and containment of many enzootic and epidemic diseases of the livestocks; which the Government of Manipur had submitted proposals for providing funds under different schemes.
Govindas Konthoujam stated that during the year 2011-12, Government of India had approved for construction and strengthening of infrastructure and equipments for 75 building-less Veterinary Institutions with an outlay of Rs.857.25 lakhs as Central share. Half of the amount i.e. Rs.428.00 had been released by the Centre and utilised by the State Department. Further, a sum of Rs.91.20 lakhs was released during the year 2014-15, which was sufficient for construction of only 8 Veterinary Institutions.
He further requested to release the balance amount for construction and strengthening the remaining 30 Veterinary Institutions in the revised rate during the year 2014-15.
He emphasized the important and critical requirement of the establishment of a Quarantine Station at Moreh, the border town in Manipur bordering Myanmar. The Quarantine Station will become indispensable when import/export of animals kicks off.