Japan to fund Rs.7000 crore for dairy development in India

NEW DELHI: In an effort to find a way of for funding of  about Rs. 10,000/- crore or more in animal and husbandry sectors including fisheries and dairy in the country, Union Secretary of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Devendra Choudhry convened a meeting of senior officers from IDBI, NABARD and NCDC here on Monday.

Choudhry said that it is imperative that all the sectors of Animal Husbandry including Dairy and Fisheries etc. needs to be promoted aggressively not only for better return but also for ensuring gainful employment and nutritional needs of the people.

Secretary underscored the point that as an amount of Re1/- invested in Animal Husbandry activities provides return of Rs.3/- whereas from agriculture (Re.0.70) is the return which is far less.

Chaudhary informed that a number of funding agencies are to be identified for bridging

the gap between usual plan resources and requirement as stated above in foregoing paras. He

informed that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) separately examining a

proposal of an amount of about Rs.7000 crore for support to Cooperatives for upgradation

and modernization dairy milk processing and chilling facilities of about 14.4 MT. It was

emphasised that as to how the other agencies like NABARD, IDBI, NCDC can facilitate

priority lending sector funding to the Animal Husbandry activities and on the beneficial

terms to entrepreneurs including cooperatives and small and marginal farmers.

Secretary categorically pointed out that Animal Husbandry can be the effective tools for changing the game for enhancing and doubling the income of the farmers and directed all the participating agencies to find out a fully integrated prospective for animal husbandry sectors and come up with the solutions from their end.