The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Scheme for milk producers in a fortnight: Minister

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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Scheme for milk producers in a fortnight: Minister

Special Correspondent

Government planning to pay the milk producers directly
Raitha samparka kendras to be converted into veterinary clinics

Bangalore: The incentive of Rs. 2 for every litre of milk sold by farmers to milk cooperatives, announced in the budget by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, will be implemented in a fortnight and the modalities are being worked out, Minister for Animal Husbandry Revunaik Belamagi said on Wednesday.

The Minister told presspersons that the Government was contemplating paying the milk producers directly rather than route the incentive through the Karnataka Milk Federation. “The Government is doubtful that the money may not reach the beneficiary farmers, if the huge amount is paid to the Karnataka Marketing Federation,” he said.

He said that about one crore litres of milk (64 lakh litres sold to private vendors and 32 lakh litres supplied to cooperative societies) was produced daily in the State.

The blueprint of implementing the ambitious programme would be prepared in three days and it would be launched soon, he said.

Asked about the lack of infrastructure at the KMF for preserving and processing/converting the huge quantity of excess milk into powder and other products, the Minister said that the Government would discuss the issue with the officials.

Mr. Belamagi said that in the last year 4.70 crore sheep were insured and government paid Rs. 2.71 crore as insurance premium on 5,41,813 sheep in four divisions.

Interestingly while the farmers rearing sheep got Rs. 78 lakh as compensation, the insurance companies made a fast buck of Rs. 1.5 crore forcing the government to wind up the scheme.

According to the D.M. Nanjundappa Committee report, 318 veterinary hospitals were to be opened over a period of eight years. But, the Minister said the Govvernment was able to open 229 hospitals during 2006-07 and 2007-08.

Mr. Belamagi said that the Government planned to covert 517 raitha samparka kendras into veterinary clinics in five phases and 116 such kendras had been converted into clinics.

The construction of 403 buildings for veterinary hospitals under the NABARD scheme was in progress, he added.

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