Veterinary revamp: Dispur to invest Rs 700 crore to boost Animal Husbandry and Veterinary sectors

GUWAHATI:  The Assam Government is going to invest Rs 700 crore to boost the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary sectors, which play an important role in the state economy, especially in boosting self-employment.

This is what Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a meeting with the top-level officials of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department. The Chief Minister wants to update the existing veterinary dispensaries, set up new multi-care veterinary hospitals, set up more meat-processing plants, set up cold storage facilities, fill up the vacancies in veterinary doctors' posts, etc.

According to sources, the state has a huge demand-supply gap in livestock products, leading to crores of rupees going out of the state for importing broiler chicken, eggs, pork, etc.

In 2011-12, the state produced 34 tonnes of meat. It rose to 56 metric tonnes in 2021-22, registering a growth rate of only 3.16 percent in a decade. Egg production has also registered a growth rate of only 3.23 percent in a decade.

According to sources, after the LoC (Letter of Credit) scandal, the department has been neglected for years, even though it is very important, especially in growing the rural economy. The dilapidated veterinary dispensaries and sub-centres failed to provide the right services to the farmers. Though the government has taken a few steps to boost the department, shoddy implementation has negated the effort. The geo-climatic conditions of the state are ideal for the expansion and development of the cattle industry, but there is also a haven for a wide variety of bacteria and parasites, many of which cause significant economic losses to the farmers. Swine flu deals a body blow to piggeries in the state, restricting the growth of the pig population. The department has to cull a huge number of pigs almost every year.

According to sources, the lack of adequate strength among doctors and other staff members has also affected the department. For instance, under the Central Government's scheme to provide door-to-door services to the farmers, the mobile veterinary units were set up with a veterinarian, a para veterinarian, and an attendant each. However, due to a shortage of staff, most of these mobile units faced closure.

According to sources, taking all these issues into account, the Chief Minister wants to revamp the department and has made an estimate of Rs 700 crore to make that happen.

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