Minister For Animal Husbandry K Venkatesh hands over liquid nitrogen container for artificial insemination, for the benefit of Maithri worker, during Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technician in Rural India (Maithri) workers training programme, at Nethravathi hall of Zilla Panchayat on Saturday.
Credit: DH Photo
Mangaluru: Minister for Animal Husbandry K Venkatesh said that Opposition parties who are fighting on streets opposing the milk price hike have no concern towards the farmers.
Speaking after inaugurating the Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technician in Rural India (Maithri) workers training programme, at Nethravathi hall of Zilla Panchayat on Saturday, he said that the government is supporting farmers who rear cattle in rural areas. Rs 4 per litre milk which was hiked recently will be given to farmers fully.
The Karnataka government has urged the centre to increase the financial assistance given for the Maithri workers to Rs 5000 per month. “I will also speak to the Chief Minister also in this regard” he added.
Artificial insemination with sexed semen aimed at increasing the birth of female calves has seen 90 per cent success. There is a need to create awareness among the farmers on it through Maithri workers, said the minister.
Pashu Sakhi workers have a huge responsibility and cover seven to nine villages in a gram panchayat and submit reports to the nearest veterinary clinics and hospitals. The cost of sexed semen artificial insemination is Rs 650, of which subsidy of Rs 400 is given and farmers have to pay only Rs 250, the minister said.
Stating that the D K CO-Operative Milk Producers Union (DKMUL) procures 3.40 lakh litre milk from farmers, the minister said to meet the demand for milk in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the DKMUL procures additional 1.60 lakh litre milk from other districts. Except DKMUL, all other milk federations are under loss. The milk production in Karnataka has touched 1 crore litre. Now, it has reduced to 80 lakh litre due to summer, he added.
Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Manjunath S Palegar said that 17 diagnostic labs for diagnosis of diseases in cattle are sanctioned during the year. Already, labs at Mangaluru, Koppal, Vijayapura have been inaugurated. In addition, micro labs have been sanctioned to 140 taluks for carrying out tests at the taluk level.
Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr Arun Kumar Shetty said that initially 19 unemployed youth were trained under the Maithri scheme, of which only 10 are working now. Later, the department decided to train Pashu Sakhis in administering artificial insemination. Accordingly, 33 have already been imparted with the training and 36 will undergo training for three months.
Vinod Kumar, a Maithri worker from Belthangady who underwent training during 2022-24 said that initially, seven to eight artificial inseminations were administered per month in his village. Now, it has reached 45 per month. This in turn has helped me to earn while being self-employed. He appealed to the minister to increase the financial assistance of Rs 1500 given per month for the Maithri workers.
DKMUL President Sucharitha Shetty, ZP CEO Dr Anandh K and others were also present.