Mega project gives TN livestock farmers a reason

CHENNAI: Entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu who aim to strike it big in livestock farming have something to cheer about. The central government has approved the salvaging and rearing of male buffalo calves' project, with a financial outlay of Rs 27.7 crores for the year 2010-11.
The scheme, to be implemented under the guidance of state animal husbandry department, aims at the economical rearing of male calves for the production of international quality meat meant for export.The project also aims to provide high quality hides to leather manufacturers.
The scheme will have three models. The mini calf rearing unit targets farmers who already have been rearing calves. The mini unit will have one to nine calves and such farmers will be given 100% interest-free loans. In the second model, aimed at commercial units, the government will provide 25% of the total investment as capital subsidy. The third model is meant for industrial units, having the capacity to rear 1,000 or more calves. The government has approximated an investment of ` 80.4 lakh per unit and will provide 25% of the investment as capital subsidy.
The scheme also envisages to improve by-products such as meat-cum-bone meals, hides and bio-fertilisers.
A state-level sanctioning and monitoring committee will be constituted under the chairmanship of secretary, animal husbandry and will include members from NGOs, local administration, regional office in charge of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and an expert on meat science.
NABARD will release the funds for the proposals accepted by the committee. The scheme will also be evaluated by an independent agency and based on the evaluation, it will be decided whether the project can be continued for a second year.
"A lot of good projects have already been approved. Livestock farming in the state is going to get a new thrust," M P Nirmala, secretary, department of animal husbandry, said.
One such project is pig development' with an annual fund allocation of Rs 3 crore to encourage commercial rearing of pigs. Another project, utilisation of fallen animals', aids marginal farmers engaged in carcass collection with an annual financial outlay of Rs 9.3 crores. The integrated development of small ruminants and rabbits' with an annual funding of Rs 18.33 crore has also been approved.
"These projects will improve the condition of livestock farmers and also augment the country's foreign exchange earnings," Nirmala said.