Brief Notes: Pigs are a source of rich protein diet

Pigs are a source of rich protein diet. These are commonly reared in rural and small towns. Indian pigs are of poor quality.

There are over 128 lakh pigs in the country. Nearly 15% of pig population is graded and exotic variety.

There exist nearly 120 Pig breeding farms run by the state governments in their respective states. Exotic breeds like white yorkshire, Hampshire, Tamworth, Saddle back and Landrace are maintained at these farms. The farms breed pigs and supply piglets, boars and sows to the farmers for cross breeding and improvement of desi stock.

A centrally sponsored scheme, Assistance to states for integrated Piggery Development, is being implemented for strengthening the pig-breeding farms in the States. During the Eighth Plan, an amount of Rs. 800 lakh was released for strengthening the pig breeding farms in the States of Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim, Bihar, Manipur, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

Assistance to pig breeding farms under agricultural universities and Krtshi Vigyan Kendras is also covered under this scheme. During the 9th Plan (up to 2000-01) an amount of Rs. 1265-75 had been released for strengthing pig breeding farms in different states.

Feed and Fodder Development

Availability of nutrious feed and fodder are essential for the improvement of livestock. In order to make available scientific fodder production technology, seven regional stations

have been established In different agro-climatic zones, i.e., at Hissar (Haryana), Kalyani (West Bengal), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Alamadi (Tamil Nadu), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Suratgarh (Rajasthan) and Shehama (Jammu and Kashmir). These are also engaged in production and propagation of certified quali’ fodder seeds. During 1999- 2000 these stations produced 199 MT of fodder seeds and conducted 1,680 field demonstrations of new fodder varieties.

A Central fodder seed production farm at Hessarghatta produced 203 MT seeds of different varieties of fodder grasses/legumes during 1999-2000 and conducted 150 field demonstrations of new fodder varieties.

During 1999-2000, financial assistance of Rs. 16 lakh has been provided for strengthening of two farms in Nagaland ; Rs. 129.56 lakh was released for establishment of four fodder banks (two in Gujarat, one each in Jammu and Kashmir); Rs. 123.75 lakh provided for enrichment of straw and cellulosic waste in Mizoram, Sikkim, Gujarat and Orissa, Rs. 13.89 lakh provided for establishment of silvipasture system in Mizoram and Sikkim, Rs. 114.80 lakh provided for grassland development including grass reserves in Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Orissa.

During 2000-01, Rs. 30 lakh has been provided for strengthening feed and fodder farms. They are three in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Karnataka. Rs. 63-112 lakh for setting up three fodder banks, one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and H.E Rs. 28 lakh has been provided for establishing silvi-pasture system in H.P. and Karnataka.

Dairy Development.

The industry has got a major boat in the country in recent years. It has helped in improving income level of production and improving nutritional standard of the people. Nearly 69 million tonnes of milk was produced in 2000, and the target for 2001-02 was production of 85 million tonnes. With this end in view, the government of India had implemented three schemes in the dairy sector during 2000- 01. These were

(a) Integrated Dairy Development Projects in non-operation flood, Hilly and Backward Areas.

(b) Assistance to co-operatives

(c) Milk and Milk Product Order-1992