Money for Cow Dung: Chhattisgarh Launches Scheme for Livestock Owners
The Chhattisgarh government will now buy cow dung from livestock owners and convert it to fertiliser, a move it said would help prevent open grazing and make cattle-rearing profitable. The initiative is part of the ‘Godhan Nyay Yojana’, announced by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at an online press conference on Thursday. It will commence from 20 July, when ‘Hareli’, a local festival, is celebrated.
Baghel said the scheme had multiple objectives, including income generation and environment conservation. “Chhattisgarh has had the tradition of cattle grazing in open, which harms both the cattle and the crops of farmers. Stray animals on roads of cities are a major cause of road accidents. Often cow owners leave the cows astray after milking, which causes various problems. This will change after the implementation of Godhan Nyay Yojana. Livestock owners will provide proper fodder and water to their cattle and keep then tied up.” Baghel said.
The cow dung thus collected can be converted to fertiliser and sold for additional profit, he added. Baghel also said the Congress government in the state will utilise cowsheds, set up in thousands of villages under a different scheme, as a source of vermicompost. This fertiliser will then be sold to farmers as well as other government departments.
While the scheme was announced on Thursday and is expected to commence in a month, the committee of Principal secretaries and secretaries under the chairmanship of chief secretary are yet to finalise the entire procedure of the yojana, right from procurement of the cow dung to the production management of the compost. Five-member sub-committee of the Cabinet chaired by Agriculture and Water Resource Minister Mr. Ravindra Choubey will decide the procurement rate for cowdung. This committee will include Forest Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar, Cooperatives Minister Dr Premsai Singh Tekam, Urban Administration Minister Dr Shiv Kumar Daharia, Revenue Minister Mr. Jaisingh Agrawal. This committee of ministers will decide the procurement rate of cowdung within 8-days, after deliberating upon the suggestion recieved from farmers, livestock owners, cowshed operators and ‘intellectuals’. Baghel appealed to the farmers, livestock owners, cowshed operators and intellectuals to provide suggestion for the scheme, saying that it will bear long-term results and will prove to be beneficial for rural economy as well as state’s economy.
On Wedensday, the CM also inaugurated the biggest solid waste processing plant in the state in Raipur district. The plant with the capacity of 500 ton daily garbage disposal is also going to help in production of fertilizers and fuel for cement factories, officials said. The plant made by the input cost of Rs 197 crore is being run on the PPP basis, and is expected to generate fertilizers through vermi compost and fuel for cement factories.
Chattisgarh eases curbs
The state government on Thursday allowed the running of inter-district bus services. It also green-lit the opening of shopping malls, clubs and restaurants, but with curbs. While swimming pools, cinema halls and any other social gathering place will remain shut, shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to open only if they follow the rules and SOP laid down by the health department.
Read: Breeding policy for buffaloes and cattle revised
Source: The article is extracted from The Indian Express, June 26, 2020.