Agartala, May 16, 2023, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala May 16: The Animal Resource Development Department (ARDD) under the state government has made all necessary efforts to implement various developmental programs that will facilitate better livelihood for the majority of people across the state who are associated with farming.

In a press conference at the civil secretariat on Tuesday, State ARDD Minister Sudhangshu Das highlighted the various developmental works under the department.

He said, “Under the Mukhyamantri Swanirbhar Parivar Yojana, total of 30,526 families have been assisted for rearing animals. This includes 5487 families for pig rearing, 2743 for goat rearing and others for the 2021- 2022 financial year”.

“A total of Rs 10.55 crore has been spent on this project in the financial year 2021-2022”, he added.

Besides, a total of 35,044 families have been assisted for animal rearing during the financial year 2022 - 2023 through the Mukhyamantri Swanirbhar Parivar Yojana.

Talking about the 2023-2024 financial year, the ARDD Minister said, “Target has been set to assist 52,060 families for anima rearing”.

Talking about the success of Mukhyamantri Unnat Godhan Prakalp, Das said, “75 percent of Tripura's population is engaged in animal husbandry. Cattle in the state are mainly reared for milk production, dung manure production, agriculture and transportation which has increased the demand of female calves”.

“To meet up the increased demand, an initiative was taken to increase the number of female calves through artificial insemination using frozen sexed semen. With the implementation of the process 90% claves produced are female and only 10% male”, he said.

The Minister further said that seeing the immense successful results of the process that will help in making the state self sufficient in terms of milk and milk products, the state government has decided to spend a total of Rs 15. 72 for further success of the project in the financial year 2023-2024.

Talking about the North-Eastern Council (NEC) funded project Minister Sudhangshu Das informed that in this project, a small pig abattoir with ICAR-NRCP designed deep freezer and sales center (counter) has been set up at mixed starter breeding farm at Nalichara in Dhalai district and an expenditure of Rs.14 lakhs has been spent on setting up this abattoir.

JS Mishra Secretary, ARDD Department Tripura also remained present at the day’s press conference.