Kerala launches 'Ksheeradhara'

Aimed at achieving self sufficiency in milk production, the Kerala government has launched a unique project with a focus on better quality cattle breed.

The project, called Ksheeradhara, was officially launched by chief minister V S Achuthanandan here.

Speaking after inaugurating the project, being jointly undertaken by the animal husbandry department and the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB), the chief minister said that the state would position itself as a self sufficient state in milk output.

He launched a premium bull semen reservoir and also flagged off a mobile embryo transfer lab on the occasion.

Stressing the need for making milk production a viable venture for farmers in the state, Achuthanandan called for steps to improve the quality of the cattle breed. Since milk is an important staple diet in the state, dependence on Tamil Nadu, for that matter any other neighbour in this regard should be stopped, he said.

"The government intends to take its efforts forward for increasing milk production by improving the cattle stock in the state."

State food and civil supplies minister C Divakaran, who presided over the function, said that the government would undertake measures to make available high quality bull semen at all the veterinary hospitals in the state.

He said that the sate had all the potential to reach self sufficiency in milk production in three years.