HYDERABAD: With an aim to improve dairy productivity in the state, the government is planning to increase the number of bulk milk chilling units (BMCU) in Tier II and Tier III cities in the next four years. The work is proposed to be taken up under the National Dairy Plan with an outlay of Rs. 723 crore. Also, under the NREGS programme, villages would be mobilised to be self-sufficient in fodder production through development of fodder nurseries, bund plantation and fodder conservation. This will be taken up with an estimated cost of Rs 965 crore, according to animal husbandry minister P Vishwarup.Addressing a state-level workshop on ‘Development of Dairy Industry in Andhra Pradesh— A Changing Perspective’ here on Friday, the minister said the government has provided the farmers with various beneficial schemes such as Pasu Kranthi Patham, Intensive Dairy Development Programme (IDDP), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana with the purpose of increasing milk production. In the last seven years, Rs 93 crore have been spent on dairy development. The milk production in the state has gone up from 72.6 lakh million tonnes (MTs) in 2004 to 112.6 MTs this year, he added. Though Andhra Pradesh is one of the top producers of milk in the country, the productivity in terms of each animal is not up to the mark, Praveen Prakash, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperation Federation (APDDCF) said. If the health of the cattle is improved along with increase in fodder production, milk production can go up further, he pointed out. He stressed on public private partnership mode to strengthen dairy production in the state.Adding to these suggestions, Bhale Rao, special chief secretary to the state government, department of animal husbandry, said health of livestock could be improved by introducing mobile veterinary health units and by ensuring vaccination of cattle. Nearly 60 percent of cattle do not produce more than 1 litre of milk. If they are fed well, production can be doubled, he said, adding that there is a need for more number of veterinary doctors, para vets and engineers in dairy industry. On the occasion, representatives of the dairy industry requested the minister to scrap the 14.5 percent VAT on dairy products. It is only 4 percent in the neigbouring states. This huge difference is causing loss to the state, they said.Vishwarup said special initiatives would be taken up for dairy development in Warangal and West Godavari districts. He asked the industry to rope in women and marginal farmers to promote dairy productivity.
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