The Uttar Pradesh government is continuously working towards promoting cattle conservation and natural farming. As part of this initiative, vermicompost units will be set up in all cow shelters across the state. The government's objective is to make these shelters self-sustainable by utilizing cow dung and urine as by-products. Additionally, this step will help promote eco-friendly natural farming. Recently, during the Mahakumbh, the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development held an in-depth discussion on this matter and formulated a strategic plan.
Currently, Uttar Pradesh has over 7,700 cow shelters housing approximately 1.25 million stray cattle. Additionally, under the Mukhyamantri Sahbhagita Yojana, 1.62 lakh stray cattle have been distributed among over 1 lakh beneficiaries, who receive ₹1,500 per month under the scheme.
Following Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision, the agriculture department, in collaboration with relevant authorities, will establish vermicompost units in all shelters based on their capacity. These centers will also receive training on modern techniques for processing cow dung and urine to enhance their efficiency.
The Uttar Pradesh government is consistently encouraging livestock farmers. Recently, the state launched the ‘Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana’ to conserve, develop, and boost milk production from 25 indigenous cow breeds. Under this scheme, the government will provide a 50% subsidy on loans taken from banks for livestock farming.
Additionally, the government has introduced the ‘Amrit Dhara Yojana’, which offers subsidized loans of up to ₹10 lakh for those raising two to ten cows. For loans up to ₹3 lakh, no guarantor will be required, making it easier for small-scale farmers to avail the benefits.
To support stray cattle conservation, the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated ₹2,000 crore in the latest budget. Previously, an additional ₹1,001 crore was allocated in the supplementary budget for the same purpose.
Furthermore, the cost of constructing large cow shelters has been increased to ₹1.60 crore, and the government has approved the establishment of 543 new shelters. Under the MGNREGA scheme, livestock farmers are also being provided with affordable cattle sheds and biogas plants.
Promoting Natural Farming in Bundelkhand: The Uttar Pradesh government is actively working towards establishing the state as a hub for natural farming. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been advocating for traditional farming methods integrated with modern technology to improve sustainability. Special emphasis is being placed on natural farming in Bundelkhand and villages along the Ganga River. Now, local rivers have also been included in the initiative to ensure better irrigation for farmers.
