Telangana: Rs800 crore buffalo distribution scheme ready for implementation

Pashu Sandesh, 2^nd August 2018

Speaking at a review meeting with department officials on Wednesday, Animal Husbandry Minister of Telangana T Srinivas Yadav informed that about 2.13 lakh members associated with various dairy co operatives will receive the benefit of buffalo distribution scheme. Government already released Rs 161 crore for phase-I of the scheme to procure animals from various places, he added. Secretary Animal Husbandry, Sandeep Kumar Sulthania, Director Srinivas Rao,Malknoor Dairy president G Vijaya, Vijaya Diary Chairman Loka Bhoopal Reddy, Karimnagar dairy MD, Shankar Reddy, Mother dairy DGM, V Ashok Kumar were present in the meeting.

The Minister said the government had made all necessary arrangements to launch the program. This scheme will substantially increase the per capita income of dairy farmers. “The government will be providing transport expenditure of Rs 5,000 for each milch animal and it will be given directly to societies for distribution to the beneficiaries,” said yadav. He further added that insurance for the animals should be completed at the place of purchase and the insurance tag must be fixed at the same time. Apart from this the government would be providing 300 kg fodder free of cost for three months period for each animal. An exclusive app is also developed to record the details of the scheme.

“Distribution of buffaloes to dairy farmers” scheme was announced by Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, and approved by the cabinet in June this year. A total of Rs 800 crore is allocated for this scheme. Under this scheme a subsidy will be given to 2.13 lakh members associated with milk co operative societies for purchase of buffalo. The cost of one unit (one buffalo) is kept Rs 80,000, SCs and STs will get 75 percent subsidy and others will get 50 percent subsidy on the unit cost. Beneficiaries are free to buy buffaloes from any were in the country, Govt will pay a extra amount of Rs 5000 for transportation of animals.

This buffalo Distribution scheme will benefit around 2 lakh families of the farmers who produce and sell milk for their income. This is a first of its kind initiative in the country.

Last year Telangana government distributed about 58.9 lakh sheep at an expenditure of about Rs 3,000 crore. Apart from this state government is also giving a additional incentive of Rs 4 per litre milk of milk to the farmers who are pouring their milk in dairy cooperative societies.