The Chittoor administration has geared up to making the district into a ‘Milk District’ by 2020, eyeing on a target of producing more than 50 lakh litres per day.
Animal Husbandry Department, dairy industries, veterinary experts and researchers from Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU) in Tirupati have formed into a consortium, with a series of action plans to execute the ‘Ksheera Sagaram’ (Ocean of milk) programme which was launched by Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in February this year.
As part of the preparatory measures, the Animal Husbandry Department has been organising target-oriented workshops, with participation of officials and dairy farmers as well since the last two months.
The district, having an ample scope for dairy development, from Satyavedu to Kuppam, is considered as a congenial zone for milk production, with a number of private diaries, government-owned milk collection centres and active involvement of Mahila Samakhyas.
At present, the district has a healthy population of nearly 6 lakh cows, and more than 50,000 buffalos. A plan is underway to double the cattle population in a phased manner, apart from intensification of research activities at the field level to augment milk production and sustenance of indigenous breeds.
Speaking to The Hindu , Joint Director (Animal Husbandry) M. Srinivasa Rao said that the present milk production in the district stood at 24 lakh liters per day owing to summer, which is 2 lakh litres less than the average figure.
To achieve the projected production, he said, the immediate focus areas included increase in fodder availability and maintenance of ‘ensoiled fodder stocks’.
