Budget 2018: Rs. 50cr to assign cows Aadhaar-like unique IDs
The Budget 2018 has been hailed for its emphasis on agriculture and related sectors. Of the many schemes approved, a mission to assign unique Aadhaar-like IDs to cows was allotted Rs. 50cr. The Pashu Sanjivini scheme will cover 400 crore cattle. The agriculture ministry has already acquired the necessary technology. This is one of the many measures devised to double farmers' income by 2022.
All about the Pashu Sanjivini scheme
The scheme was proposed in 2015. Last year, one lakh officials started on a mission to find each of the 880 crore cows and buffaloes in India. Tamper-proof, long-lasting polyurethane tags containing details like breed, age and height, each costing Rs. 8-10, were attached to the animals. The purpose was to track cattle to prevent trafficking, ensure better breeding and increased milk production.
Haryana, Jharkhand showed the way
In 2015, Haryana and then Jharkhand began a similar exercise of tagging cows with UID to provide them health schemes as well as check illegal cattle smuggling. Both states provided booklets to owners to regularly fill in details about their cows.
2018 targets: Increase in employment, artificial insemination and milk production
In this Budget, the overall targeted outcome concerning this scheme are employment for 100,000 people, 15% increase in artificial insemination and a Rs. 15,000cr jump in value of milk output, by enrolling 400 crore cattle. For artificial insemination, the output target is 15 crore sex-sorted doses to "increase availability of high genetic merit heifers (cows that have not borne calves)."
Rs. 200cr for upgrade of commonplace breeds using elite varieties
About Rs. 200cr has been earmarked for an artificial insemination drive, aiming to "upgrade" commonplace breeds using elite indigenous varieties like the Gir (Gujarat), Sahiwal and Rathi (Rajasthan). Officials claim milk from indigenous cattle has more "A2 allele of beta casein" and is thus healthier.
Animal husbandry is a significant part of Indian farmers' welfare
Most Indian farmers work on small plots, hence it's nearly impossible to double their income by 2022 based on cultivation alone, experts said. "Animal husbandry gets only 5.4% of the overall agricultural ministry budget despite livestock being the most critical sector for most marginalized farmers," opined Kavitha Kuruganti, an activist. This Budget, the government announced an Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund worth Rs. 10,000cr.
