Pages

Dairy Development from 1947-1970

After independence too, the major objectives and how to achieve them remained almost the same as in Pre-Independence era. After independence, the Govt. of India, however realized to make a concerted effort to increase the milk production in the rural areas. To achieve these objectives, the efforts were made to develop the dairy industry in three sectors viz. the Government/Public Sector, Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s) and MNCs.

i. Government Projects

In the Public Sector, three major schemes viz. Community Block Development Scheme, Key Village Scheme and Intensive Cattle Development Programme were launched which are being discussed below: The total outlay on animal husbandry and dairying during the period (First Plan, 2 nd plan, 3 rd plan and three annual plans) was Rs. 235.93 crores, but the actual expenditure was only Rs. 186.23 crores(79%). The percentage share in the outlay on animal husbandry and dairying was 63% and 37% respectively, while expenditure in the respective categories was 57% and 47%.

(a) Community Block Development Programme.

To achieve social and economic transformation of India, which was identified as the major objective of our five year plans, Community Block Development Programme was started in 55 selected blocks of the country. The importance of the project could be gauged by the fact that the project was launched from Alipore Block, near Delhi by the then Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru on Oct. 2, 1952.

The major activities undertaken in the project were in the field of (i) Agriculture,(ii) Animal husbandry, (iii) Irrigation, (iv) Communication, (v) Health, (vi) Education,(vii) Supplementary employment, (viii) Housing, (ix) Training and (x) Social welfare.

The Block Animal Husbandry Officer was appointed in each block to look after the animal husbandry programmes aimed at development of cattle by scientific breeding and disease control. Each block had a network of artificial insemination centers,where local cattle were served with quality semen of proven pedigree sires. By the end of 1968, the strength of the community development blocks went up to 52,651.

In addition there were 489 Tribal Development blocks.

(b) Key Village Scheme

Key Village Scheme, a comprehensive and integrated programme of cattle improvement in the country, was launched during the First Five Year Plan. In the project, each key village was a compact unit of contiguous villages having a population of about 500 adult cows and or buffaloes. The technical programme of cattle development included:
 designing a sound breeding policy for each state.
 enacting the livestock improvement act and the control of contagious diseases among cattle.
 establishment of Artificial Insemination Centers.
 advising the cattle breeders to solve cattle breeding problems by implementing:

a) Castration of all unapproved bulls and breeding either by artificial insemination or by good quality bulls.

b) Protection against contagious diseases and provision of first aid facilities for sick animals.

c) Advise for better feeding

d) Provision of better marketing facilities.

e) Organization of cattle shows and calf rallies.

Regarding the progress of the project by 1959-60, a total of 3,61,064 artificial inseminations and 92,105 natural services were performed, which covered almost 25% of the population. In the key village centers, a total of 1473 bulls for AI and 193 bulls for natural service were maintained and about 1.37 lakhs scrub bulls were castrated.

(c) Intensive Cattle Development Project

Key village scheme could not bring about an appreciable impact since it could cover only about 6% population and the good work done in the area was negated by the vast area not covered by the project. In the year 1964, another ambitions project known as Intensive Cattle Development Project, which is similar to the package programme in agriculture and is regarded as an important instrument to
increase milk production through intensive and integrated use of all required inputs was launched.

Each ICDP had been planned to cover one lakh cows or buffaloes of breedable age with the facilities of a Central Semen Bank, four regional A.I. centers and 100 stockman centers. Though on the eve of the fourth plan, the total number of ICDP’s were 31, but this went on increasing and as per the information available the number increased to 124 by the end of 1992-93.

ii. Non Government Organizations

Not only the Government, but many Non-Government organizations being run by various philanthropic trusts and religious organizations are helping a lot in the development of animal husbandry and dairying in India, however these organizations were provided with financial support from the central and state Governments.Some of the prominent organizations working in the field are being discussed below:

(a) Gosadan Scheme

Gosadan Scheme was launched primarily with the objective to segregate old, infirm,unproductive, useless cattle so as to control indiscriminate breeding and relieving pressure on the limited resources of fodders and feeds. Gosadan are generally located either in remote forest areas or waste lands. In the first plan period, it was proposed to set up 160 Gosadans with 3,20,000 cattle. In the 2 nd and 3 rd plan too,60 and 23 Gosadans were proposed to be set up, but the accomplishment fell short of targets. In the first plan only 25 Gosadans could be established.

(b) Goshala and Pinjrapoles

Goshalas and Pinjrapoles are the institutions of charity established with the close cooperation of public. The major objective of these institutions was to houseunserviceable and unproductive animals. There was a clear cut understanding that cows, calves and bullock will be kept in Goshalas while the other animals will be housed in Pinjrapoles.

Central Goshala Development Board was formulated in 1949 with the sole objective of developing existing Goshalas and Pinjarapoles having strength of about 6 lakh heads. In the second five year plan period, development activities were intensified.For the production of quality bulls, 246 Goshalas were selected. In the third plan, again 168 more Goshalas were provided with financial and technical aid and were converted into cattle breeding cum milk production units. It could well be pointed out that on several occasions, many cows belonging to these Goshalas could win the milk yield competitions at the national level.

(c) Central Council of Gosamvardhana

Central Council of Gosamvardhana came into existence in 1952 with the main aim of effecting all round coordinated cattle development at the national level. Council was reconstituted by the Government of India in 1960 and its structure as well as functions were enlarged. The activities were modified to cover organization,implementation and coordination of all programmes and policies relating to“preservation and development of cattle for the increased production of milk and the draft power. Some of the achievements of the council are as below:
  •  it provided a common forum for administrators, scientists, and non official workers with cattle development work.
  •  established a close collaboration with central and state Governments and other voluntary organization for advancement of cow and her progeny.
  •  council could arouse the public interest in the development of cattle by organizing“Gosamvardhana Week”.
  •  conducted the various programmes of seminars, cattle shows and rallies.
  •  issued journals, books, films and pamphlets for workers.
  •  worked to provide a planned base for preservation and development of cattle.
  •  paid considerable attention on the breeding of cattle and adopted a sound breeding policy for entire country at its Mount Abu Seminar in June, 1960.
  •  conducted one year training course for its Goshala managers.
  •  Lamer reported in 1960 that there are over 3000 charitable institutions, where 10% of the cattle are estimated to be in some kind of productive activities.
These charitable institutions were run by public and religious organizations, but could also muster grant from central and state Governments. Some of the other organizations working in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Bengal area are Baba Mast Ram Trust, Deen Dukhiya Mal Trust, Gandhi Samarak Nidhi and Kasturba Gandhi Trust. All these organizations were catching stray animals from the urban areas and were maintaining them on their farms.

iii. ICAR its Institutes and Agriculture Universities
Indian Council of Agricultural Research fully financed by Govt. of India is playing a crucial role in the development of dairy industry in India. ICAR is the sole body,which formulates the basic policy of dairy development, provides coordination among the various programmes and guides their execution. Various institutes of ICAR such as National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) at Karnal (Haryana) Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Izzatnagar (U.P.) Centeral Institute of Research on Buffalow (CIRG) at Hissar (Haryana), Centeral Institute of Research on Goats (CIRG) at Makdoom (U.P.) and National Bureau of Animal Genatic Resources (NBGR) at Karnal (Haryana) are engaged in researh pertaining to dairy development. In addition to the above mentioned institutions various agirulture universities under ICAR are also engaged in the dairy development in the country.

Some of these institutes like NDRI and IVRI and many of the agriculture universities are also importing dairy education to create skilled manpower for dairy plants and research institutions in the country.

The policy regarding dairying is formulated and recommended by the Dairying Committee of the Animal Husbandry wing of the Board of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. ICAR is also deeply concerned with the Dairy Education and Research in the country. It subsidizes Indian Dairy Diploma at Allahabad, publishes books on dairy science and organizes trainings programmes. It is engaged in sponsoring and giving grants to various agricultural Universities in the country for several research projects on the problems related to dairying.

iv. International and Foreign Agencies

The credit of success in the development of dairying in India partly goes to the international organization, which have provided the aid to finance the various activities from time to time. It has been estimated that out of the total amount spent in India from 1951 to 1969 on various development projects, the share of international agencies is of the order of about 20%. Out of the total aid, 58% has been received from USA alone, the share of the World Bank and IDA, Federal Republic of Germany, Britain and USSR was around 13%, 7%, 6% and 6% respectively.

Canada and Japan has provided about 7% of the total aid. The remaining 3% has come from another group of 15 countries, the prominent among them being France,Czechoslovakia, Australia and Netherland. The aid received from various agencies is discussed below:

(a) United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) UNICEF is a pioneer organization, which is spending on an average Rs. 15 crores per year and has contributed significantly towards the development of dairying in India. The procedure adopted to provide/sanction the aid is by approval of joint committee of UNICEF/FAO, who conducts on the spot survey and discusses it in detail with the Central/State Governments. It has helped in the construction/setting up of 17 dairies in the country. In the Rupee Reimbursable Programme, India could get Rs. 90.55 lakhs for Worli, Kaira, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Aarey Milk Colony, Bangalore Dairy and National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. In addition to this, Rs. 4.42 crore were provided for various other dairy projects. All this aid which was received from UNICEF was used for the purchase of milk powder, milk plants, equipment and machinery, planning and setting up milk plant and providing training. Apart from this, UNICEF contributed towards organizing dairy teachers
tutorial workshop and T.A./D.A. for personnel attending the First Dairy Industry Conference held in India in 1964. The repayment of the aid received was in terms of supplying the milk to the children and nursing mothers in the country.

(b) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

FAO provided the experts in the implementation of dairy projects in the country.They also helped in conducting the surveys and met the expenditure of training of the Dairy Technicians deputed in the dairy developed countries. Help was also provided for conducting various programmes like Regional Dairy Course at Bombay, meeting on Dairy Problems in Asia and Far-East countries etc. A sum of Rs. 26.86 lakhs was provided for the supply of cattle feed to milk producers of Hyderabad and Delhi. In the process, Punjab was given 250 Friesian heifers from U.K.

Under the Operation Flood Programmes which will be discussed in the later part of this section, 12600 tonnes of skimmed milk powder and 42,000 tonnes of butter oil was sanctioned in 1969, which was to be received in 5 years period, but due to certain reasons, this could not be completed even in 10 years.

(c) CARE

UNICEF and CARE along with other organizations from the United States and India donated 28,000 tonnes of skim milk powder each year valued at Rs. 3 crores for free distribution among School children.

(d) Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM) OXFAM has donated Rs. 14 lakh for the purchase of feed mixing plant to be installed at Kaira District Milk Cooperatives Union.

(e) Heifer Project

Heifer Project Inc. was conceived in 1938 by Dan West, engaged in a church as church relief worker in distribution of milk powder to orphans and babies who were the victims of Spanish civil war. In the later stage, it was considered better to donate cows rather than milk. Under the project by 1962, it had shipped more than 25,000 farm animals and 7.50 lakh chicks and hatching eggs to over 60 countries.

India also got in 1955, 6 Jersey bulls for breeding purposes. Arrangements were also made to supply frozen semen from Canada for inseminating other animals. In b1962 again, 78 Jersey bulls and 66 heifers valued at Rs. 33 crores were shipped to India in three installments. In Oct. 1969, 90 Jersey and Friesian heifers and bulls were received from New York. In Nov. 1969, 62 Jersey heifers, 21 Jersey bulls,10 Friesian heifers and 9 Friesian bulls of top quality were supplied to India. Under this project, USA also gave a free gift of 50 American Jersey cattle (41 bulls, and 9 heifers). USA also provided Brown Swiss Frozen Semen for a cross breeding project at NDRI, Karnal. It is through this only that NDRI could develop Karan Swiss breed, which is considered as a quality breed and yields heavily.

(f) For Those Who have Less Project

Under this project, consignments of animals were received from Australia of various breeds like Guernseys, Friesian and Jersey for breeding purposes. These were distributed in various states like Tamil Nadu, Assam, Maharashtra and Kerala.

(g) International Dairy Federation (I.D.F)/Dairy Society International

International Dairy Federation and Dairy Society International has also contributed to the development of dairying in India. These two organizations discuss problems of international interest. It has set up a separate Commission in 1954 to study the problems of dairying in warm countries.

(h) Aid from other Countries.

Though not very significant (3%) aid has been received by India from various countries like Japan, Italy, France, Czechoslovakia, Australia, Netherlands, Yugoslavia,Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand,Hungary and Bulgaria.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

 

Most Reading