Odisha signs agreement with JK Trust for setting up livestock

Odisha government signed an agreement with JK Trust today to set up 510 integrated livestock development centres in 13 districts of the state.
The project called Cattle Breed and Small Ruminant Improvement Project will help in reducing vulnerability of farmers in case of crop failure due to different calamities, Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathy said.
It will cover about 4,500 villages in 510 gram panchayats (GPs) for which 510 rural youth will be engaged as 'Gopal' to handle the project activities in the identified centres.
The project would be implemented during 2016-17 with financial support of Rs 12.85 crore under Rashtriya Krushi Vikash Yojana, which aims at 25,000 crossbred and upgraded female calves of high genetic merit and having higher milk production potential.

This would provide sustainable livelihood to the dairy farmers in the project area.
JK Trust-Gram Vikash Yojana, which is currently implementing a programme for cattle breed improvement in 13 tribal districts, has also been complementing efforts of the state government in strengthening the animal breeding and veterinary support services in tribal and remote areas of the state.
Secretary to Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Bishnupada Sethi hoped that the project will complement the efforts to upgrade the genetic potential of the bovine population as envisoned in the Odisha Bovine Breeding Policy-2015.
State Project Manager of JK Trust, Arun Upadhyay said artificial insemination and other veterinary support services provided by the government will further strengthened by this agreement.