Odisha’s Milk Procurement Records 22% Growth

BHUBANESWAR: The milk procurement in Odisha during 2015-16 has increased to 19,25,93,745 kg recording a growth of around 22% over last year.

This has been discussed at a high-level committee meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Tuesday.

Available data shows, per day average milk procurement during 2014-15 was around 4,44, 473 kg which has been enhanced to per day average procurement of 5,23,710 kg during 2015-16.

Similarly, the milk production in the state has also grown by 6% during the year 2014-15. The total milk production during 2014-15 has been 1903,000 MT against the production of 1784,000 MT during 2013-14.  The artificial insemination during 2015-16 has been around 15 lakhs which is more than the target. Around 10 lakh frozen semen doses are likely to be produced by the end of this fiscal year. So far 628 infertility camps have been organised.

Reviewing the progress, Padhi directed the department to ensure 100% veterinary services to the livestock farmers. The department has been asked to provide veterinary services proactively including appropriate animal feeding knowledge.

Fisheries and Animal Resource Development secretary Bishnupada Sethi informed that there had been no epidemic during last three years and the animal diseases have been controlled significantly.

27 district laboratories and three regional laboratories have been made functional to provide expert services for animal rearing and care. Apart from that around 1456 dairy co-operative societies have also been provided with AI facilities.

 OUAT Prof Susant Das, a member of the committee, said that Odisha had been the first state in the registration of cattle and buffalo species with National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resource ( NBAGR) in the post-independence era.

So far four cattle species namely Kahariar, Ghumusari, Motou, Binjharpuri and two buffalo species namely Kalahandi Buffalo and Chilika buffalo have been registered with the agency because their unique indigenous genetic character.

The committee also discussed the priority areas of bovine breeding policy.  The identified priority areas included the establishment of embryo transfer technology laboratory, the establishment of the national bovine genomic centre, setting up sex-sorted semen production technology, support for Goshala, early pregnancy diagnosis kit, etc.  The action plan of Rs. 32.36 crore for 2016-17 was discussed and approved at the meeting.