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Formulate schemes on fodder, says Governor

By Our Staff Correspondent

JAIPUR AUG. 7. The Rajasthan Governor, Nirmal Chandra Jain, has underlined the need for formulation of both long-term and short- term schemes for supplying fodder and feed to the cattle, asserting that animal husbandry is the main strength of rural economy in the State.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating a Fodder Management Centre in Bikaner on Wednesday, Mr. Jain said proper support to the animal husbandry sector would help farmers endure the after-effects of drought for five consecutive years. "Rearing of cattle can be a good source of income in the period of deficient rainfall,'' he pointed out.

The fodder centre in Bikaner has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 1.25 crores under the World Bank-sponsored agriculture development project. Nearly Rs. 34.5-lakh worth of implements have been purchased for laboratories in the centre. The Governor, referring to the procurement of fodder at high prices from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, said there was an urgent need to formulate fodder production schemes to deal with the situation. He also drew attention of the policy-makers in this context to the Maru Gochar Yojana worth Rs. 100 crores announced by the Central Government.

Mr. Jain suggested that a time-bound programme for production of fodder seeds, coupled with other steps such as development of pasture on the wastelands and promoting the growth of different vegetations, be chalked out to provide timely succour to the rural populace during the crisis.

The Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan Agriculture University, Parmatma Singh, said the animal husbandry's contribution to the revenue generation in the State was as high as 20 per cent. He said the university had made available 57,000 quintals of seeds to the farmers last year.

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