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Agartala, Jul 04, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk
Agartala Jul 04: With the target of making the state self-sufficient in terms of milk production, the state government and the department has taken up initiative to produce high quality cattle fodder in the state itself, said ARDD Minister Sudhangshu Roy.
The state Animal Resource Development Department Minister Sudhangshu Roy made the statement as he launched a 5,000-litre capacity Insulated Road Milk Tanker (IRMT), at the Gomati Dairy premises here on Tuesday.
The tanker will enable the transportation of milk from Bulk Milk Cooler Centers (BMC) at 4 degree Celsius while making sure that the quality of milk is maintained and is not spoiled.
Marking it to be a great development in the sector, the minister said, “Gomati Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited will be implementing the Insulated Road Milk Tanker”.
Seeking cooperation from the departmental authorities and farmers associated with cow rearing, the minister said that significant efforts have been made to enhance the production of milk in the state.
“To ensure adequate production of milk in the state farmers must be encouraged to rear cows in a healthy manner. And therefore, it has been decided to produce high quality cattle fodder within the state. Government-owned vacant land, forest areas, and government farms will be utilized for fodder production”, he said.
Highlighting the calculations for the 2022-23 year, the ARDD Minister said that there is a shortage of approximately 85,000 metric tons of milk in the state.
The minister further said, “About 27,000 female calves were born in the state under Unnata Godhan Prakalp”.
Apart from that, the department has decided to set up Dairy buying centres in all districts of the state so that farmers get a fair price of their produce.
Minister for Cooperation Shukla Charan Noatia also remained present at the flagging off ceremony of the Insulated Road Milk Tanker on Tuesday.
Addressing the program, Noatia said, “Emphasis has been given to make the state self-sufficient in terms of milk production. Also, the welfare of the farmers associated with this are taken care of”.
“Under various schemes of the state and central government, different poor families are provided with cattle, poultry, pigs and others to ensure that they can earn a better livelihood and become self-reliant”, he said.
The minister also praised the efforts of Gomati Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited for working towards taking the dairy services to the grassroot level.
Director, ARDD Dr K Sashi Kumar informed that the insulated tankers have been provided under National Programme for Dairy Development Grant-In-Aid.
He said, there are 2 BMCs in Melaghar of 5,000 litre and in Kalyanpur of 2,000 litre capacity.
Mayor-in-council of Agartala Municipal Corporation Hiralal Debnath, Gomati Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited Chairman Samir Das and Principal Secretary of ARDD department B. S. Mishra also remained present at the day’s program.
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