| LIVESTOCK POPULATION |
6.1.0.
|
As
per Livestock Census the total livestock population in Assam was 113.18
lakh in 1998, which increased to 129.23 lakh in 1994 and further to
134.67 lakh in 1997. Amongst the livestock population of the State,
Cattle population constituted the largest group numbering 80.30 lakh
during 1997 followed by Goat population 26.77 lakh, Pigs 10.82 lakh
and Buffaloes 7.28 lakh. The Livestock Census, 1997 has shown a positive
growth in the population of species like Cattle (3.2 per cent), Buffaloes
(11.7 per cent), Goats (1.2 per cent) and Pigs (30.7 per cent) over
the population of previous census, whereas the population of Horses
and Ponies has shown a negative growth (14.3 per cent) over the same
period. Table 6.1 exhibits the species-wise livestock
population in Assam as per Livestock Census, 1988, 1994 and 1997. |
|
|
| POULTRY POPULATION : |
6.1.1.
|
The
Livestock Census, 1997 revealed a significant increase (29.03 per
cent) in the Poultry population of the State over that of 1994 Census.
During the year 1997, the State had 179.80 lakh poultry population
as against 139.34 lakh in 1994. The category-wise population of these
species during 1997 were Fowls 129.31 lakh and Ducks 50.49 lakh. |
|
|
| LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS : |
6.2.0.
|
The
Livestock population of Assam mainly belong to the indigenous non-descript
type for which the average productivity of livestock in Assam is poor
in comparison to the position in other States of India. As per data
made available by the State Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary
the production of milk in Assam in 2002-2003 was estimated at 773
million litres as against 750 million litres in 2001-2002 indicating
a nominal increase of 3.06 per cent over the previous year. Again
the production of egg in 2002-2003 has been estimated at 509 million
Nos. as against 507 million Nos. in the preceding year. In case of
meat, the production during 2002-2003 was 20.94 thousand tonnes as
against 19.48 thousand tonnes in 2001-2002. The table 6.2
shows the trend of livestock production in the State during the year
2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. |
|
It
has however been observed from the production data that the quantum
of per capita availability of milk, egg and meat per month in Assam
is very negligible, as the same has been worked out at 2.4 liters
of milk, 1.5 nos. of eggs and 6.5 gm meat only. |
|
|
| Development Programmes : |
6.3.0.
|
The
State Government has undertaken some schemes for development of Livestock,
Poultry, Piggery etc. The main objectives of the schemes are Rapid
Socio Economic Development, creation of gainful employment in rural
areas etc. The leading schemes continued to be implemented by the
Department are as follows – |
|
(i) Intensive Cattle Development Project (ICDP) : |
|
It is a Livestock development scheme in the field of Artificial
Insemination of Cattle. There are 11 Nos. of ICDP Centre in the State
and at present, the activities of most of the centres are entrusted
to the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services Project
(ARIASP). |
|
(ii) Co-ordinated Cattle Breeding Project : |
|
The main objective of this scheme is to identify crossbreed bulls
of high genetic merit and transmitting ability of milk for future
breeding programme of the State. |
|
(iii) Bovine Contagious Pneumonia Scheme (BCPP) : |
|
It is a centrally sponsored scheme meant to strengthen the working
ability of bullocks and milk productivity of cows. |
|
(iv) National Project on Rinderpest Eradication (NPRE): |
|
It is Centrally sponsored scheme for eradication of Rinderpest which
is a contagious viral disease of four footed animal and eradication
of contagious Bovine Pleure Pneumonia, a bacterial disease of Cattle. |
|
(v) Piggery Development : |
|
The Government has taken steps for upgradation of local Pig through
Pig Breeding Farms for Piggery development. |
|
(vi) Poultry Development : |
|
The scheme is meant for Development of Poultry Sector. There are
23 Nos. of Poultry Farms in the State with a good numbers of Marketing
Centres. |
|
|
|
Apart
from the above schemes there were some other Livestock and development
programmes, which includes Frozen Semen Bank Stockman Centre, Key
Village Centre, Livestock Farm, Veterinary Hospital and Dispensaries.
As per information available for 2001-02, there are 26 (Twenty Six)
numbers of Regional Artificial Insemination Centres (RAI), 7 (Seven),
numbers of Frozen Semen Banks, 3 (Three) numbers of Frozen Semen Storage
Depot, 11 (Eleven) numbers of Liquid Nitrogen Plant, 10 (Ten) numbers
of Key Village Centres and 1 (One) number of Coordinated Cattle Breeding
Project. |
|
Further,
a wide network of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries exist in the
State for providing animal health care. The numbers of such institution
are 29 Hospitals, 298 Dispensaries, 25 Mobile Dispensaries and 125
Block Dispensaries. |
|
The
State has vast potential to generate income and employment to rural
Population through growth in livestock sector. The Department of Animal
Husbandry and Veterinary has established training institutions to
provide training facility to the unemployed youth of the State. There
are 4 (Four) numbers of such training institutions in the State. |
|
|
| DAIRY DEVELOPMENT IN ASSAM |
6.4.0.
|
The
Dairy Development in Assam was initiated in the fag end of the Second
Five Year Plan period with the basic concept of procurement, processing
and distribution of milk aiming at Economic upliftment of Rural Milk
producers and to help urban consumers to get quality milk at a reasonable
price. It is also an excellent tool to provide employment opportunities
as well as income source to the Farming Communities in the rural area.
The Dairy Development Department, Assam has continued to take up various
steps for milk production in the State by organising Dairy Cooperative
Societies (DCS). |
|
At
present, there are 7 (Seven) numbers of Town Milk Supply Schemes (TMSS)
in operation viz. Guwahati (Central Dairy), Jorhat (Central Dairy),
Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Silchar, North Lakhimpur and Manja (Hill District)
and one Cremary Scheme at Garampani (Hill District). There are also
18 numbers of Chilling Plants under the above Town Milk Supply Scheme.
The procurement and distribution of milk under Dairy Development during
2001-2002 and 2002-2003 are shown in Table-6.3 |
|
The
Department has also produced and sold various types of milk products
like –Yoghart, Paneer, Flavoured Milk, Dahi, Cream etc. during
the year. Further, to develop the Dairy Industry in the State, the
Department has also taken some other schemes/projects as follows- |
|
|
|
A) MILK VILLAGE SCHEME |
|
For
enhancement of milk production and creation of self-employment amongst
the SC/ST people and economically backward classes, the Department
has taken up the milk village scheme by providing 2 (two) Milch Cows
with Calf. This Milk Village Scheme also includes the provision of
some other inputs like Training allowances to beneficiaries, Insurance
Premium for cattle insurance, cost of cow shed construction, feed
and fodder etc. The beneficiaries under the scheme are selected through
FMC and Panchayats of the respective areas. |
|
B) OPERATION FLOOD II PROJECT (OF II) |
|
At
the request of the Government of Assam, the National Dairy Development
Board prepared a Dairy Development Project for the State, in the light
of Operation Flood II Project of Government of India, and formed a
Milk Union namely West Assam Milk Producer’s Co-operative Union
Limited (WAMUL) in 1979-80. The Project envisaged milk marketing in
Guwahati and other urban areas (Under the Project area) and developed
ANAND pattern co-operative infrastructure in the milk-shed areas of
the project to initiate production. There is a 60,000 litre/daily
capacity plant in Guwahati and a cattle-feed plant commissioned at
Changsari to meet the requirement of feed for the dairy animals. |
|
C) INTEGRATED DAIRY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (IDDP) |
|
For
providing employment opportunities and generating additional income
in the rural areas, the Government of India has instructed State Government
for formulating an Integrated Dairy Development Project for Hill Areas
and Backward Areas during Eighth Five Year Plan. Accordingly, State
Government has implemented the Integrated Dairy Development Project
covering ten Districts of the State. This project is Centrally Sponsored
and Central Grant is hundred percent and it is being implemented under
the State Directorate of Dairy Development. At present, 330 Nos. Dairy
Co-operative Societies (DCS) have been formed at village level within
the project area and 182 Nos. DCS have been provided with inputs. |
|
D) CHAR AREA DEVELOPMENT SCHEME: |
|
The
Char Area Development Scheme is having two Centres under Char Area
Development Programme, one at Panbari (Dhubri) and another at Howly.
These Centres established for extension works in Char Areas to motivate
and educate the farmers. |
|
E) RURAL DAIRY CENTRE : |
|
There
are two Rural Dairy Centres located at Nalbari and Hojai. The main
function of these centers to collect raw milk from the nearby Co-operative
Societies and bring the milk to centres for distribution in the urban
areas. |
