UP Govt to Invest Rs 31 Cr To Enhance Dairy Sector in Next 5 Months

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh embarked on a mission aimed at improving cattle breeds, boosting milk production, and increasing the population of indigenous cow breeds. the government has formulated a comprehensive action plan for three key schemes under the Nand Baba Milk Mission, with a budget allocation of Rs 31 crore for the remaining five months of the fiscal year.

Under this mission, a substantial Rs 10 crore has been allocated for both the Chief Minister Swadeshi Cow Promotion Scheme and the Chief Minister Progressive Animal Husbandry Promotion Scheme, while Rs 11 crore is earmarked for the Nandini Krishak Samridhi Yojana. As part of this endeavour, the Yogi government intends to establish 2,500 indigenous cow centres, distribute 8,000 awards, and set up 35 dairies.

Shashi Bhushan Lal Sushil, the Milk Commissioner and Mission Director, provided details of the application process for the Chief Minister Swadeshi Cow Promotion Scheme. He stated, “Interested individuals can apply for the Chief Minister Swadeshi Cow Promotion Scheme until October 17. To avail of the benefits, applicants will have to visit the Vikas Bhawan in their respective cities, where the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will assist them in filling up the form and guide them through the process. The list of selected candidates will be released by the department on October 25.”

Initially, the scheme will be accessible only to beneficiaries from the 18 divisional headquarters districts of the state. If this phase proves successful, it will be expanded to cover all districts in the state.

Sushil elaborated on the targets, explaining, “The department aims to select a minimum of 56 beneficiaries in each of the 18 divisional headquarters districts, with a target to acquire a maximum of 112 cows. In this fiscal year, the objective is to purchase 138 to 140 cows per district, amounting to a total target of 2,500 cows across all divisional headquarters districts. The Yogi government has allocated Rs 10 crore for this initiative, with the funds being directly transferred to the beneficiary’s account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).”

Additionally, the government is considering extending the application deadline for the Chief Minister Progressive Animal Husbandry Incentive Scheme, which was initially set for September 20. The new deadline will be announced on October 16, following approval by Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra.

Furthermore, the release date for the list of selected candidates for this scheme, initially scheduled for October 25, may also be extended. This particular scheme has been rolled out across all districts of the state.

Sushil detailed the goals of the Chief Minister Progressive Animal Husbandry Incentive Scheme, stating, “Under the scheme, a target has been set to select 27 beneficiaries from each district, with incentive amounts of 10,000 and 15,000. An annual target of 106 to 107 awards per district has been established for this fiscal year. The overall objective is to distribute 8,000 awards throughout the state.”

The Yogi government has allocated Rs 10 crore for this initiative, with funds being directly transferred to beneficiaries through the DBT system.

Similarly, the Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana has been launched in ten cities during its first phase, including Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi, Meerut, Agra, and Bareilly. A selection committee has been formed to oversee this scheme.

“The deadline for beneficiary applications under this scheme has been set for October 5, with the verification report from the committee expected to be submitted to the department by October 20. In the initial phase, 3 to 4 beneficiaries will be chosen per district from the 10 districts, resulting in a total of 35 beneficiaries being selected. The Yogi government has allocated Rs 11 crore for this initiative,” the release added.

Further, Chief Minister Swadeshi Cow Promotion Scheme provides substantial grants of up to Rs 40,000 for the purchase of superior breeds of indigenous cows from other states, such as Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Haryana species.

Under the Chief Minister Progressive Animal Husbandry Incentive Scheme, progressive cow herders with indigenous breeds receive incentives ranging from Rs 10,000 to 15,000, disbursed through DBT based on specified criteria.

The Chief Minister’s office stated, “Additionally, under the Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, a generous grant of up to Rs 31.25 lakh per unit is allocated to support the establishment of a dairy with 25 cows, focusing on breed enhancement and elevating milk productivity in cattle.”

The Yogi government has dedicated a substantial budget of Rs 1,000 crore under the Nand Baba Milk Mission, with the aim of enhancing milk production and preserving indigenous cow breeds.

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