Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 05 August 2025
In a bid to revive the livestock sector and improve rural livelihoods within the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, has sought the speedy intervention of the Central Government for the availability of 500 high-yielding Sahiwal and Gir cows to the Islands by way of cattle ships.
In a letter addressed to Mr. Rajeev Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, with copies to Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and the Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration, the MP emphasised the pressing have to rejuvenate the animal husbandry sector within the UT.
Mr. Ray famous that there was no recent provide of livestock from the mainland in over three many years. He recalled earlier profitable initiatives within the Seventies and through 1992–93, when high-yielding cattle breeds like Jersey and Gir cows had been introduced from states similar to Gujarat, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Haryana. These efforts, he stated, had a big constructive impression on the livelihoods of island farmers.
He raised issues that within the absence of recent livestock, the Islands have grow to be closely depending on synthetic insemination and lab-based replica strategies, which have proven restricted success. The ageing native cattle inhabitants, coupled with low replica charges, has led to a decline in productiveness and rising financial hardship for farmers.
The MP additionally criticized the shortage of scientific management within the Animal Husbandry Department, declaring that administrative officers (DANICS) quite than certified veterinary scientists have been heading the division till not too long ago. He asserted that this has hindered the efficient implementation of each Central and UT-sponsored schemes, leaving many rural improvement initiatives both unimplemented or poorly executed.
Calling for coordinated motion, Mr. Ray urged the Ministry of Animal Husbandry to work with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to rearrange cattle transportation and make sure the distribution of livestock to eligible farmers, together with these in tribal areas, beneath related schemes.
He pressured that such a transfer wouldn’t solely strengthen the agricultural financial system but additionally align with the broader targets of Atmanirbhar Bharat and sustainable improvement by creating native employment and enhancing agricultural productiveness.
