Govt to cash in on buffalo calves

The government is likely to unveil a comprehensive plan to convert 35-40 million male buffalo calves that die each year in the absence of proper rearing facilities in India into a source of revenue and employment.

The department of animal husbandry and fisheries of the agriculture ministry has proposed that farmers should be sensitised to rear the male buffalo calves with venture funding from banks and financial institutions.

"If farmers do not let the male calves die natural death as they do now and rear them, they can generate meat, hide, hoofs and horns from these livestock and generate additional revenue. We are in the process of developing a plan. It is in the discussion stage with Planning Commission," a top official in the Department said.

Sources in Planning Commission said, "The proposal to entice farmers to rear the male buffalo calves and not to let them die is under discussion, it is a positive initiative. The financial, infrastructure and marketing modalities for the proposal would be worked out soon."

The proposal also includes focus on communities that specialise in removal of hide from the flesh of livestock. The official said training institutes would be set up to teach unemployed youth in these communities to extract hide according to international norms.

The plan would also include training for women and youth to convert the hoofs and horns into jewellery and other items of interior decoration, the official said. India exports about five lakh tonnes of meat, of which 90 per cent is buffalo meat, according to Vision 2015 prepared by Rabo India Finance for Ministry of Food Processing. Indian buffalo meat is witnessing a strong demand in the international market due to its lean character and near organic nature, the Rabo India Finance report said. India is the fifth largest exporter of bovine meat in the world and currently exports to over 60 countries.