the goan I network
PANAJI
In a bid to promote dairy as an industry, the Goa government has approved an amended scheme which entails a subsidy component of up to Rs 1 crore for community dairy farming as the viability of smaller 10-cow farms is poor and small farmers are unable to expand operations on their own.
Under the new scheme approved earlier this week and published in the official gazette, dairy farmers with small land holdings and thus unable to expand their dairy will be permitted to group together with others and avail benefits for a minimum of 50 milch animals.
The group of farmers however will have to prepare a project report with common infrastructure such as the latest ultra modern equipment, including milk parlour, milk cooler and feed mixing plant.
Also, the group should be of a minimum of five members all of who should be unrelated to each other and compulsorily possess irrigated land of at least five acres for 50 milch animals for green fodder cultivation.
Each member of the community dairy farming group should also be a resident of Goa for at least the preceding five years and be experienced in dairy management.
Ownership of the land or a valid lease and in the alternative a legitimized NOC from the
landlord will also have to be furnished by the group.
The scheme aims to promote dairy farming as an industry and an avenue to provide livelihoods to local youth by rearing cross bred cows, improved she buffaloes and indigenous breed of cows namely Sahiwal, Gir and Red Sindhi.
The scheme fixes the cost of each cross bred cow, improved she buffalo or the Sahiwal, Gir and Red Sindhi cows at Rs 70,000 per animal which will be identified compulsorily through microchip system.
The area veterinary officer or assistant director has been designated to inspect and submit completion reports of the infrastructure and fodder cultivation areas which will be the ground for sanctioning the application for the scheme.
The scheme also lays down accounting procedure for the costs incurred in setting up of the infrastructure making it mandatory to furnish receipts in original from the authorized dealer of equipment and machinery. Also, for the purchase of milch animals receipts along with transport receipts, health certificate, purchase statement duly certified by area veterinary Officer/Assistant Director has to be furnished. The subsidy component will be limited to a maximum of Rs one crore at the rate of 50 per-cent of the permissible unit cost.
In addition, a document showing insurance of the milch animals for 42 months from an authorized insurance company has also been made mandatory.
A one time subsidy will be released after the completion of the unit in all respect and only after inspection by the departmental committee. The beneficiary community group should run the unit for a minimum period of 10 years and an agreement to that effect will be signed by them with the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services.
Dairy farmers with small land holdings to be permitted to group together
Group to prepare project report with common infra
Group should have minimum five members -- all unrelated to each other
Each member should be resident of Goa for at least the preceding five years
Ownership of the land or a valid lease or NOC from landlord to be furnished
