Programme aimed at conserving Kangayam, Bargur bulls

With the jallikattu protests in Tamil Nadu throwing light and spreading awareness about the need to protect and breed indigenous breeds of cattle, the government has announced financial support for implementing a ‘Breed Conservation Programme’.

Under the programme, the government aims to conserve native cattle breeds of the State such as Kangayam, Bargur and Umbalacheri. It will also take up conservation of other major local breeds such as Pulikulam and Alambadi, Finance Minister D. Jayakumar said.

However, he did not specify the quantum of funds to be allocated for the programme.

Continuing with the initiative launched by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the government will provide 12,000 milch cows to poor women and six lakh sheep or goats to 1.50 lakh poor families during 2017-18.

Expanding acreage

Mr. Jayakumar said the area under horticultural crops will be increased from the current 34 lakh acres to 39 lakh acres in 2017-18. The government has also set aside ₹200 crore in the budget estimates for 2017-18 as production incentive, to be paid over and above the minimum support price fixed by the central government for paddy, he said.

The government also plans to launch a new programme for strengthening seed production infrastructure at an estimated cost of ₹50 crore.

The Finance Minister also said the government was launching an innovative programme for organising small and marginal farmers into ‘Farmer Producer Groups’ that will be federated into ‘Farmer Producer Organisation’ to promote collective farming.