Tripura govt identifies 10 villages to rear cattle for milk prodn

Agartala: Tripura govt has undertaken an initiative to increase the population of cattle to cater to the ever-growing demand for milk and milk products in the state. The initiative is part of the Rashtriya Gokul MissionAnimal resources development minister Sudhangshu Das Saturday said 10 villages have been identified so far to implement the project. Besides increasing the supply of milk, eggs and meat, the project aims to create employment opportunities. "We need to explore ways to increase the supply of milk and milk products. The govt is working on vaccination, treatment and disease prevention measures for animals and birds," Das said.To ensure timely treatment of bird and animals, the animal resources development department has made 13 mobile veterinary units operational along with 16 veterinary hospitals, 65 veterinary dispensaries and 460 veterinary sub-centres in Tripura.The minister said a financial assistance scheme was launched last year to encourage animal rearing activities in the state, which saw an overwhelming response. The state has set a target to produce at least 2,47,310 MT of milk, 59,700 MT of meat, and 35.96 crore eggs annually to stabilise the supply chain.