Minister for animals and fisheries resources Giriraj Singh (right) at a compendium on metabolic diseases of animals and remedies in Patna on Friday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Feb. 25: Minister for animals and fisheries resources Giriraj Singh instructed veterinary officers today to ensure loans for cattle owners and also laid stress on emu farming.

The minister today inaugurated a compendium on “Metabolic diseases of animals and remedies” on the Planetarium premises. The Bihar Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (Bameti), Patna in collaboration with the directorate of animal husbandry of Bihar government compiled the compendium.

Singh said: “The veterinary officers should ensure loans to cattle owners so that financial obstacles don’t come in their way. This will help cattle owners do well and will ensure better yields.”

On emu farming Singh said: “Emu farming will be promoted since it fetches better income for the farmers. At first, it’ll be tested under biological evidences on how many survives here.”

Emu farming is considered profitable because livestock owners can earn a minimum profit of Rs 1 lakh a year by owning a single emu. Not only this, all the organs of emu are useful. Its feathers are used for preparing medicines. Moreover, the older an emu gets, the costlier it becomes.

Singh added high breed goats are being distributed free of cost in many districts of Bihar. Singh also said veterinary dispensaries are being constructed and free medicines will be provided to cattle owners in need.

The secretary of animals and fisheries resources department, Sudhir Kumar, said: “Such programmes should be organised on a bigger scale so that cattle owners get the confidence to excel in their work. The veterinary officers will be sent to institutes outside Bihar for training.”

After learning new technologies, they will be trained here as well. The trained officers will be demonstrating the nuances of the trade to a number of people together.”

K.K. Sinha, director, animal husbandry said: “The veterinary officers should ensure immunisation of maximum number of animals.”

D.B. Mondal, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar, Bareily, Rakesh Ranjan, professor in Punjab Agricultural University and professor A.K. Das, Bihar Veterinary College were also present at the occasion.

R.K. Sohane, director, Bameti said: “Whatever funds have been given by Bameti, among that, the least has been spent on animal husbandry. It should be ensured that more works are done in this field.”