CHANDIGARH: Haryana government said today it has decided to introduce a new concept for people living in high-rises, or in urban areas, who want to rear their own cattle and produce "quality milk" for their consumption.
The government will set up 'PGs for cattle' for them.
"We are planning to earmark 50 to 100 acres of land for dairy business, like we have industrial areas near the cities," said Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister O P Dhankar.
"In these earmarked areas, there will be two types of dairies. One will be traditional, and in the second case, we will set up 'PGs for cattle'," he said.
"If a man who stays in a flat in a big city where he cannot rear cattle but wants to consume milk of his own cow or buffalo, we will keep plots for 'PGs for cattle' in these dairy areas where they can rear their own cattle and get quality milk," the minister said.
Dhankar said owners can also keep a watch on their cattle with the help of technology, adding that it would be a new initiative to boost milk production in the state.
Haryana has 36 lakh milch cattle with daily milk output of 2.24 crore litres.
Dhankar said the agriculture sector would have to be converted into services sector to raise the income of farmers.
He said the government has been providing interest-free loans for up to seven years to set up dairy units having up to 50 milch animals.
The minister said Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh would inaugurate the three-day 'Haryana Swarna Jayanti Cattle Fair' in Jhajjar on October 27. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar would be the chief guest on the concluding day of the fair on October 29.
A "catwalk" of indigenous cattle will be organised during the fair. Nearly 15,000 farmers and about 2,500 cattle were expected at the fair every day. Rs nine crore have been set aside as prize money to be given to the owners of best cattle.
This year, sale and purchase of cattle will be allowed at the fair, owners were earlier only permitted to display their animals.
The objective is to make Haryana the best state in milk production, Dhankar said.
He said the fair would be organised keeping in view the four aspects of dairy industry: breed, technology, temperature and fodder.