|
Like the other areas of the world, India has tremendous prospect of livestock raising in its different parts. Particularly in the cooler hills of the Himalayas. The congenial temperate climate and its temperate climate and its temperate vegetation existing in the Himalayas are highly favorable for exotic high producing livestock. Moreover, the highlanders like Lachungpas, Lachenpas, Gurungs and Sherpas have a traditional pastoral economy which has been handed over from generation to generation with there typical kinds of livestock such as Yaks, sheep, mountain goats, pigs & poultry.
The present rural livelihood system is well balanced from ecological point of view. However, with the increase in population and the limited availability of land (as 70% of the holding in Sikkim are smaller than 2 hectares) there is already great pressure on the cultivable land & forest and on the environment as well. Many farmers are complaining about the change in environment and decline in soil fertility. Hence, under such situation livestock farming which requires minimal use of land, labour & capital would be ideal sustainable model for development in such difficult mountainous terrain. Moreover, almost 70% of the farmers rear their livestock under stall fed condition & has drastically reduced pressure on land due to overgrazing. The grass & legumes planted on steep soil not only provide nutrition but protect the land from erosion & add nitrogen to the soil.
The development of livestock would not only provide supplementary source of income but would provide high protein rich food items such as milk, eggs & meat and organic manure for crop production.
The overall efforts are a combination of providing necessary infrastructure for animal health through a network of Veterinary Hospital, Veterinary Dispensaries and Stockman centers. Side by side the upgradation of indigenous livestock breed with the exotic livestock breed to increase their production was taken up. The introduction of genetically superior poultry birds, pigs, angora rabbits and other livestock has been initiated. Necessary facilities have been provided for training the progressive farmers & overall support required for marketing facilities for livestock products especially milk & meat.
Livestock population in Sikkim is widely distributed. In the high altitude areas yaks, sheep and local goats known as "Chengra" predominate whereas in the mid hill and low lying areas the important breeds are Siri cows, Jersy and H.F. crossbred, Goats, poultry and pigs are reared. In almost all these livestock the exotic blood inheritance level is increasing due to continuous introduction of exotic genetically superior germplasm. In Sikkim the first official livestock census was conducted in 1977. The population of important livestock census was conducted in 1977. The population of important livestock species has increased considerably except buffaloes and horse population as may be seen from the following table:
|
Livestock |
1977 Census |
1992 Census |
% of Increase/Decrease |
|
Cattle |
157546 |
200035 |
26.97 (+) |
|
Buffaloes |
5438 |
2932 |
46.08 (-) |
|
Sheep |
16104 |
16268 |
1.02 (+) |
|
Pigs |
18596 |
44477 |
139.18 (+) |
|
Goats |
88986 |
114707 |
28.90 (+) |
|
Horses |
1186 |
1789 |
50.84 (+) |
|
Poultry |
220927 |
465751 |
110.82 (+) |
|
Yak |
3995 |
5349 |
33.89 (+) |
|
PLANS |
MILK PRODUCTION IN 1000 Tons |
EGG PRODUCTION IN MILLION NUMBER |
WOOL PRODUCTION IN LAKHS /kg |
|
5th Plan |
10.95 |
1.25 |
0.24 |
|
6th Plan |
19.00 |
3.50 |
0.24 |
|
7th Plan |
27.00 |
12.00 |
0.28 |
|
8th Plan |
34.00 |
17.00 |
0.36 |
|
PLANS |
MILK AVAILABILITY |
EGGS AVAILABILITY |
|
5th Plan |
132 ml. |
6 |
|
6th Plan |
148ml. |
10 |
|
7th Plan |
163ml. |
28 |
|
8th Plan |
206ml. |
37 |
During the 8th Five Year Plan, the state has been implementing various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, both for the control of animal diseases of national importance and schemes for enhancing livestock productivity. The details of the schemes proposed to be implemented in the Ninth Year Plan period are as under:
ANIMAL HEALTH:
Animal health is foundation of the animal production. The provision of adequate veterinary services is extremely necessary to provide sufficient health coverage to the far flung areas of the State. This plan is to consider establishment of more Veterinary Hospitals, dispensaries and Stockman centres, besides providing optimum infrastructural facilities in the centres already established. The idea is to make services and basic facilities available to the farmers within reasonable distance and remedial measures taken in time as far as the infections and communicable diseases are concerned. Adequate diagnostic facilities would be made available in all the districts/hospitals for prompt diagnosis of diseases and their efficient treatment. A proper disease reporting system and disease surveillance forms the core of field veterinary care during the 9th Five Year Plan.
However, the fund provided under the State Plan is not sufficient to build up sufficient infrastructure in the rural areas. With the result 80% of the Animal Health centres are running in the rented houses. The state is surrounded by three internal borders and provision of minimum infrastructure is very essential.
Hence, in the 9th Five Year Plan a new scheme to provide infrastructure facilities in rural areas have been proposed. The other on going health schemes will be continued in the 9th Five year Plan as well.
NEW SCHEMES:
To provide infrastructure facilities in rural veterinary health centres:
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 410.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan - Rs.104.00 Lakhs
Animal health is the foundation of animal production. The creation of infrastructure on adequate Veterinary Services is extremely necessary to provide sufficient health coverage to far flung areas of the state, the plan to consider for establishment of Veterinary Hospitals, dispensaries and Stockman Centres is under way.
ONGOING ANIMAL HEALTH SCHEMES
1. Control of Foot and Mouth Disease:
Ninth Five Year Plan Rs. 50.00 lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) Rs. 10.00 lakhs
The control of Foot and Mouth Diseases is of paramount importance as far as production in cattle vis-a vis its economic bearing.
2. Rinderpest Surveillance:
Ninth Plan Rs. 70.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) Rs. 14.00 Lakhs
The CSS (50:50) was taken up during 1982-83 onward to carry out surveillance and containment vaccination programme against the dreaded Rinderpest disease in Sikkim. Although Sikkim has declared herself- provisionally free from the disease but effort is being made to strengthen the present infrastructure and manpower to maintain the disease free status.
3. Animal Disease Surveillance:
Ninth Plan Rs. 20.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) Rs. 4.00 Lakhs
This CSS was taken up during 1983-84. The financing pattern of this scheme is on 50:50 basis between the State and Central Government. The technical programme under the scheme is to set up an epidemiological unit to compile, analysis and interpret data on the prevalence of disease of livestock and national importance with a view to provide future forecast in respect of major animal disease.
4. Systematic Control Of Livestock Disease Of National importance
:Ninth Plan Rs. 50.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan Rs.10.00 Lakhs
The technical programme under the scheme is to conduct serological test to detect the carriers of this disease and to take appropriate measures to control it.
This is another dreaded Zoomaitic Disease OF National Importance. Keeping in view of the importance of this Zoomaitic disease, provision is made to control this outbreak of this disease through mass vaccination and by destroying this vector.
STATE VETERINARY COUNCIL 50:50%
This provision is envisaged for setting up a Sikkim Veterinary Council under the aegi of Indian Veterinary Council.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 125.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - Rs. 22.00 Lakhs
Under the Cattle Development Programme, it is proposed to implement three Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) viz. National Bull Production Scheme, Central Assistance for Frozen Semen and Embryo Transfer Technology.
Ninth Five year Plan - Rs. 50.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan - Rs. 5.00 Lakhs
The State plans to rear bulls calved born from elite mother cows with high pedigree siri. The State has already identified two areas viz. Dentam and Central Pandam as intensive Cattle Breeding Areas (ICBA), where milk recording has starts to identify potential bull mother cows.
It is planned to rear such bull calves upto the age of 2 years before being send to fields centers for breeding purpose. Further, the State being of hilly terrain, it is not possible to cover all the area of Sikkim. Hence, it is intended to increase the numbers of breeding of bull calves born from the embryo transfer technology would also be taken up for this proposal. The State will be able to supply breeding bull by the end of Ninth FiveYear Plan to other States in the country and may as well export to Nepal and Bhutan.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 35.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - Rs.07.00 Lakhs
The State is implementing crossbreeding programme using the frozen semen technology and natural service system in inaccessible and difficult areas. There are at present, 33AI Centers functioning in the State with an average of 8-insemination/ center/ month.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 40.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - RS.10.00 Lakhs
During the 9th Five Year Plan it is proposed to introduce embryo Transfer Technology (ETT) in the State. In the beginning, ready made embryos will be purchased from ET Centres throughout the country. The same will be transferred to healthy but unproductive cows after thawing to develop to term.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 200.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - Rs. 200.00 Lakhs
The Department of AII& VS, Government of Sikkim, felt the need to established a Poultry Breeding Farm- cum- Hatchery complex and Poultry Cooperative Societies within the State. So that the farms and the societies could cater to the demand of poultry and its products within the State and besides that motivate the unemployed youths, so that they could take part in the self- employment scheme in the field of rearing broilers and layers.
ESTABLISHMENT OF COOPERATIVE POULTRY SOCIETIES
In order to support Sikkim Hatcheries, it is proposed to establish 8 Poultry Societies all over Sikkim.
The project report to that effect has been prepared by M/S Agriculture Finance Corporation. The Agricultural Finance Corporation has also carried out detail survey on the requirements of eggs and poultry meat of Army, Border Security Force, tourists, local civilians etc.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 25.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - Rs. 10.00 Lakhs
In Sikkim pig farming has a special significance and can play an important role in improving the socio- economic status of the weaker community.
Pig rearing is very popular among the tribal community in the State. It is due to food habits of the people in hills, every household reared few herds of pig to cater to their demands of meat.
A pig are highly prolific, grows fast, farrows 8- 10 piglets at a time.
Pigs convert inedible feeds, forages, grain by – product and garbage into valuable nutritious meat.
The State Government has extended a great help to the weaker sections of the society by arranging subsidy and Bank loan to popularize the pig rearing.
After replacement of existing stocks 270 female and 30 male with exotic breeds, our piglet production will be increased 3000 piglets per annum, which will be distributed among the farmers through different schemes.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 150.00 Lakhs
Annual plan (1997-98) - Rs. 50.00 Lakhs
As made clear by the National Commission on Agriculture "Feed and Fodder" resource development programme is the prime factor towards the success of Animal Husbandry programme since feed and fodder alone constitute 60-70% of the of production of various livestock products.
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 80.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - Rs. 16.00 Lakhs
The dry zones of Sikkim adjoining Tibet and Nepal in the North have extensive grassy meadows, suitable for grazing yak, sheep and goat.
Yak has a special place in the economy of people inhabiting areas with an altitude ranging from 2,500 to 5,000MSL. Yak (bob peephagus) is known for its ability to withstand low temperature, sure footedness and capability to thrive on course fodder at high altitude where no other large animals can survive. It is the only species which produce milk , meat, hair fiber and also provide transport in high altitude. Yak is an exceptionally hardy animal and is very popular with the tribes of Lepcha and Bhutia on account of its sure footedness. And ability to thrive even in a sever winter with snowy environment. Thus Yak is also called "Camel of Snow."
OBJECTIVES OF YAK BREEDING FARMER:
Ninth Five Year Plan - Rs. 61.00 Lakhs
Annual Plan (1997-98) - Rs. 12.00 Lakhs
Geographically, mot area of North Sikkim is surrounding Rabum and South Sikkim surrounding Ravangla constituted hilly and lofty mountains, where almost entire area is inhabited by tribal population. The topography of the region is irregular and more or less sloppy area of flat land available for agricultural activities. As a result of which agriculture alone is unable to provide necessary income to the tribal people, so majorities of people are applying animal husbandry their main occupation. Further, by considering all the fact, beside rearing other livestock, the Department has initiated Rabbitery which will be the maiden venture in the field of rabbit rearing for Angora Wool production in the State of Sikkim in the temporary shed at Rabum (North Sikkim).
Further, within the short span of period, it has been observed that the stocks are doing very well as the stock population has been increased from 90 to 300.
The main advantages of initiating this scheme are as follows:
