CANACONA: The Scheduled Tribes (STs) fear that they will be excluded from the popular Kamdhenu Scheme aimed at improving dairy production in the State as title deeds for the land are made mandatory in the revised scheme.
Now, named Mukhyamantri Sudharit Kamdhenu Scheme, asks for property title documents and the ST community fears it will exclude them from availing the scheme benefits even though many of them are involved in it.
The revised scheme makes it mandatory to have a clear property title to avail this scheme under which purchasing cattle yielding high quantities of milk is subsidised by the government.
However, as most ST members do not have a clear title to the properties where they live or have their sheds, they fear that they will be rendered ineligible for the new scheme.
Speaking at a Janata Darbar, a farmer from Canacona Prasad Velip raised this issue and opined that the revised scheme will actually result in discouraging genuine dairy farmers due to lack of title documents.
Prasad raised this matter with minister Nilkanth Halarnkar when he had visited Canacona and had asked that necessary changes be made not to exclude the ST community.
Interestingly, another dairy farmer from North Goa alleged that an agency from Karnataka is actively involved in the procuring the lactating animals which are then sold to Goan farmers at an inflated price.
Prabhakar Gaonkar opined that the agency’s involvement will burden Goan dairy farmers instead of helping them.
Citing his own case, Gaonkar said that he had invested around Rs 11 lakh to construct a cowshed on a land he had taken on lease for 20 years, but lamented that as per the revised scheme, he is rendered ineligible for the scheme because he does not own the land.
The farmers pointed out that Goa is facing a severe milk scarcity as only around 39,000 litres of milk is produced in Goa while additional 13,000 litres are procured from the neighbouring States to meet Goa’s requirement.
As per figures provided by the National Dairy Development Board, Goa has invested around Rs 112 crore in eight different schemes to boost dairy farming and milk production. However, milk production in Goa has been fluctuating for the past many years.
Dairy farmers and particularly from the ST community have strongly demanded that the revised scheme be once again revised to make it an inclusive one instead of seeking to exclude people from it.
Minister says he is aware of dairy farmers’ issues, govt in process of revising the scheme
Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Nilkanth Halarnkar said that he is aware of the issues raised by dairy farmers and that the government is in the process of revising the scheme and expanding agency partnerships.
He said, “I shall review the file within the next two days, and in eight days, we will release updated guidelines.”
He said, “I have discussed the matter with the Chief Minister and admitted that some changes were made based on experience. However, maximum benefits will be given to dairy farmers in future.”
