Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has an ambitious plan to tap the “tremendous potential” of the state’s dairy sector. “Any community involved in milk production, regardless of caste or religion, will benefit from it,” he states in an exclusive interview to INDIA TODAY Senior Editor Rahul Noronha.
Q. You have announced that milk production in Madhya Pradesh, currently 9 per cent of the country’s yield, will be increased to 20 per cent. How do you plan to achieve this?
A. When we handed over the state’s milk cooperative to the National Dairy Development Board last year, daily milk collection stood at 955,000 litres and has now increased to 1.17 million litres per day. We plan to take the same model forward to eventually reach 5 million litres per day.
The state’s milk production is much higher, at around 55 million litres per day, which is why there is tremendous potential in this sector. The amount paid to dairy farmers by the cooperative has been increased by Rs 5-8 per litre, which has helped them greatly. We are following a multi-pronged approach to develop the sector.
Q. Many BJP-ruled states focus on cow welfare and the gaushala model to protect cows. Your approach seems more rooted in economics.
A. Yes, that is true. We cannot be dependent only on charity and religion for the protection of cows; we have to become self-sufficient. There is a focus on breed improvement, proper and nutritious diets for cattle, and modernisation of processing units. One eye has to be on the market. We are also focused on raising the income level of marginal farmers.
Q. Is the animal husbandry department getting additional budgetary support for realising its objectives?
A. Yes. Gaushalas will receive Rs 40 per cow as against Rs 20 earlier, towards expenses. There is now a policy to allocate up to 100 acres of land for gaushalas.
Q. Analysts believe your focus on the dairy sector is aimed at strengthening your political position, as you hail from a community engaged in rearing cattle.
A. Let me tell you something in simple terms: who is a gopal? Anyone who has a cow is one. All communities engaged in agriculture also keep cattle and earn from them. Any community involved in milk production, regardless of caste or religion, will benefit from the development of the sector. Milk would also help tackle malnutrition.
Q. The gaushala-based approach, under which stray cattle are kept and fed, does not seem to have worked. Stray cattle are a big menace for farmers. Would it not be a good idea to provide farmers with a subsidy to fence their fields?
A. No, this cannot be done. In our state, even those living close to national parks with tigers are encouraged to coexist with nature. Even they don’t need fences. We don’t have a policing-based society.
Q. But there is a provision to compensate farmers if their crops are damaged by wild animals.
A. Yes, that system is in place. But cows are never left uncared for unless the owner is truly compelled by certain factors. In such cases, local bodies have been authorised to open gaushalas to house the cows. We fund these gaushalas because this is a service to the cow.
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