Agriculture minister launches pashuhaat portal

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Saturday launched e-pashuhaat portal (www.epashuhaat.gov.in) on the occasion of National Milk Day.

Singh did this during the celebration of National Milk Day on the birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution.

"For the first time in the world under the scheme National Mission on Bovine Productivity 'e-pashuhaat' portal has been developed for connecting breeders and farmers regarding availability of bovine germplasm," Singh said.

According to the minister, breeders and farmers can sell and purchase breeding stock through the portal.

"Information on all forms of germplasm including semen, embryos and live animals with all the agencies and stake holders in the country has been uploaded on the portal. Through this portal, farmers will be aware about the availability of quality disease- free bovine germplasm with different agencies in the country. The portal will lead to propagation of high genetic merit germplasm," Singh said.

Singh also said that milk production recorded a growth of 6.28 per cent during 2014-15 and 2015-16, which is much higher than the growth rate of around 4 per cent in the previous years.

The minister added that per capita availability of milk increased from 307 gm per day in 2013-14 to 340 gm per day in 2015-16, a growth of 5 per cent, which was below 3 per cent before 2014-15.

--IANS

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