Steps taken to increase veterinary colleges: Radha Mohan Singh

The Centre has taken several steps to increase the manpower in veterinary profession, according to Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

When one of the Facebook users asked the minister to give focus on veterinary education in a ‘Facebook Question and Answer’ session on Monday, Singh said that to meet the shortage of trained veterinary manpower in the country, the Government has taken several initiatives such as to increase the number of recognised veterinary colleges from 36 to 46 and also to increase the number of annual veterinary graduates from 2,160 to 3,398.

The number of seats in 17 veterinary colleges has been increased from 914 to 1,334, he said.

To queries related to FMD (foot and mouth disease), he said that his department has initiated intensive FMD control programme. As a result of this, the incidence of disease has been tremendously reduced.

The facility for testing the FMD vaccine is available at Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) in Bengaluru, he said.

Asked if farmers are taking the benefit of soil health cards, the Minister said that 1.9 crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers so far. Those farmers applying fertilisers as per recommendations in soil health cards are experiencing higher productivity and decreased input cost, he said.

On the questions related to starting enterprises in farming and fisheries sector, he directed them to take the benefit of ACABC (agri-clinics and agri-business centres) scheme to make their ideas a reality.

To a query on starting a fisheries venture, he said the scheme of DADF (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries) provides financial assistance for construction of ponds, fish hatcheries and one-time input for fish culture etc.

To a query on marketing, Singh said that the Central government has started National Agri Market (eNAM) to integrate mandis, to reduce middlemen and to increase farmers’ share in consumer rupee.

“We are also working with the states to reform their APMC Acts so as to reduce the middlemen and promote direct marketing by farmers,” he said.

When a Facebook user pointed out that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is not being communicated properly to farmers, he said the Centre had recently organised Kisan Goshti at Krishi Vijnan Kendras throughout the country. The government is making all possible efforts to reach the benefit of the scheme to all farmers, he added.

COMMENT NOW