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Revitalization of Rivers in India Draft Policy - Isha Guru Jaggi Vasudev

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<strong>Revitalization</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Rivers</strong> In <strong>India</strong><br />

<strong>Draft</strong> <strong>Policy</strong> Recommendation<br />

• Today, we are faced with an extraord<strong>in</strong>ary set <strong>of</strong> challenges <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g food<br />

production <strong>of</strong> animal orig<strong>in</strong> with all the other limitations like land, water,<br />

weather, etc and the question is how would we meet these demands.<br />

• Most <strong>of</strong> the feed comes from graz<strong>in</strong>g, although a small portion <strong>of</strong> concentrate<br />

feed conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g various feed additives for enhanc<strong>in</strong>g milk production is be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

given to cattle.<br />

• Most <strong>of</strong> the feed manufacturers <strong>in</strong> <strong>India</strong> make both poultry as well as cattle<br />

feed. The demand for usage <strong>of</strong> cattle feed will grow if the feed is economically<br />

viable.<br />

• The challenge is to make a nutritionally competent feed us<strong>in</strong>g low-grade<br />

fibrous crop residues, which are ma<strong>in</strong>ly byproducts from other <strong>in</strong>dustries,<br />

along with feed additives.<br />

• The cost <strong>of</strong> milk production is much higher with the crossbreeds. However, the<br />

crossbreeds are high-ma<strong>in</strong>tenance animals and are disease-prone.<br />

• The feed requirements <strong>of</strong> native breeds are very m<strong>in</strong>or. Their feed-to-milk<br />

conversion is good. Farmers <strong>in</strong> Kerala have endorsed their short breed, Vechur,<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g they have the potential to produce highly-priced milk even with kitchen<br />

scraps and leftovers.<br />

5. NEED FOR PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NATIVE LIVESTOCK<br />

Part <strong>of</strong> the productivity <strong>in</strong>crease is due to the <strong>in</strong>troduction <strong>of</strong> crossbreed<strong>in</strong>g<br />

policies, which allowed farmers to favour certa<strong>in</strong> traits <strong>in</strong> their livestock. But<br />

selective breed<strong>in</strong>g is not without its drawbacks: over time, too much focus on<br />

productivity can lead to other genetic traits be<strong>in</strong>g phased out – <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g those<br />

that make traditional breeds uniquely adapted to their local environments.<br />

Traditional livestock are more adaptable to local conditions and environmental<br />

challenges. Hence scientists along with farmers are work<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st the clock to<br />

save traditional breeds before they disappear <strong>in</strong> favour <strong>of</strong> more productive<br />

crossbred cows.<br />

The cost <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>puts start<strong>in</strong>g from the cost <strong>of</strong> the cow to the day-to-day<br />

expenditures <strong>of</strong> the crossbred cows is always high. Susta<strong>in</strong>ability is the key issue.<br />

666 Annexures

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