Need to work on adequate availability of fodder for animals: Narendra Singh Tomar
Waste to wealth management
necessary in every way - Union Agriculture Minister
Tomar addresses the World Dairy Summit of International Dairy Federation
A special
session on Feed, Food and Waste was held under the chairmanship of Union
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday, the
third day of the International Dairy Federation's World Dairy Summit in Greater
Noida. Tomar drew the attention of the delegates from across India and abroad
towards the challenges of Agriculture and Dairy sectors and spoke about working
together on common issues. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has
focussed on small things to solve the challenges, as a result of which there
has been comprehensive awareness. Mainly, there is a need to work on how to
ensure adequate availability of fodder and what can be done towards this
objective.
Stressing on ‘Waste to Wealth Management’ by all means, Tomar
said that normally we do not dispose of the waste properly. Whether it is the
crop stubble or the disposal of fruits and vegetable waste in homes, converting
them into wealth is the need of the hour. There is a need to think and work on
how we can use the waste in different ways, for example, take the disposal of
stubble, - using the technology, the Pusa Institute has made the decomposer.
This will increase the productivity of the farm, while fodder will also be
available for the cattle, there is a need to work in this direction on a large
scale.
Tomar said that India is primarily an agricultural
country, and the scope of Agriculture is incomplete without Animal Husbandry
and Cooperatives sectors. In view of this, PM Modi has announced a special
package of more than 1.5 lakh crore rupees for Agriculture and Allied sectors
under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat campaign. There is a big contribution of women in
Animal Husbandry and Milk Production sector, women empowerment is intrinsic
part of their involvement in this sector. Therefore, the Prime Minister has
created separate Ministries of Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives sectors and
also hiked their budget. The basic spirit behind all this is to benefit the
farmers. Now more and more Agri Startups are being launched.
Giving the example of the Goras area of his parliamentary
constituency, the Union Agriculture Minister said that this area used to be a
cluster of Gir cows. Even at present, there are about 30,000 cows, but due to
lack of fodder during the summer, the cattle have to be taken away for grazing,
now work has been started in this direction. There is also a need to pay
attention on creating awareness about how cattle get food. He said that cow
dung is also a waste. The Central Government has launched the Gobardhan scheme.
Cow dung can be used as an energy resource. This will increase income, while
protecting the environment from harm. Along with this, natural farming will
also be encouraged. He said that people have become health conscious after
Covid and are moving towards clean and hygienic food. People's attention has
been drawn towards Natural Farming. The coverage of Organic Farming and Natural
Farming is rising. It is in demand all over the world. Recently, India has
exported agricultural products worth Rs. 3.75 lakh crore, including a large share
of organic products. He said that whatever proposals will come out of this
conference, the Government will proceed on it in right earnest.