Expedite the announcement of Kamdhenu University for Veterinary, Dairy Science and Fisheries

In India, Animal husbandry alone contributes four per cent to the GDP, excluding draft animal power, i.e., sustainable farming, forestry and the use of horses, mule and cattle. For the economy of our nation, Animal Husbandry has not remained a secondary component of agriculture sector but has emerged as a strong individual entity.

For Gujarat, the contribution of Animal Husbandry is 4.5% in total domestic production of the State. Animal Husbandry is even more important sector in Gujarat than the rest of the country as it is known for its high producing animals since centuries. For us Animal rearing is more a religion than the business.

Animal husbandry and dairying have played a vital role in the rural economy of Gujarat. Dairy farming, primarily concerned with milk production, functions on a cooperative basis and has more than 2.7 million members. Gujarat is the largest processor of milk in India. Products from Amul are highly respected all over India and is Asia's largest milk brand.

As per the estimates of the survey of major livestock products, during the year 2002-03 the Gujarat produced 6.09 million tonnes of milk, 385 million eggs and 2.71 million kg of wool. Gujarat also contributes inputs to industries like textiles, oil and soap.

Gujarat is also enjoying its uniqueness in Animal Genetic Resources with very distinct breeds of livestock known and exported across the globe. In Buffalo, breeds like Jafarabadi, Bunny, Mehsani and Surati are well preferred by the producers in the state and in the other states as well. Our indigenous Cattle, Kankrej and Gir, have been incorporated in breeding programmes of USA, many Latin American courtiers like Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela and African countries as well. Our Sheep breeds like Marwadi and Patanwadi are well known for its wool production. We are also not behind in the genetic resources of Camel with breeds like Kutchi and Marwadi. Gujarat is also bestowed with longest coast line of the country of 1,600-km allows fishery development.

Recognizing its potential to become a leader in production from animals, Gujarat was the first state to suggest a veterinary university way back in 1990. But the matter was kept on the backburner for unknown reasons. All the seven veterinary universities in the country came up after 1990. To add to our embracement states like Karnataka and West Bengal, which have less livestock as compared to Gujarat, have established universities even though they took up the initiative much later.

In the scope of the university at present, there are four veterinary colleges in Gujarat, one each at Anand, Dantiwada, Navsari and Junagadh, along with Dairy Science College at Anand and the Fisheries Institute at Veraval.

The main objective of the Veterinary University is to make the animal husbandry and fisheries more productive and efficient through effective breeding, professional management, better nutrition and hi-tech infrastructure for processing to bring positive change in socio-economic level of producers.

The announcement for establishment of the University for the Gujarat has been done by many successive Governments. With the initiative of our able honorary Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the present Government has moved one step ahead and passed an ordinance to start a Veterinary University in the state. Our well respected and very popular Chief Minister has proposed very meaningful name “Kamdhenu Veterinary University” and have also kindly allotted land near Himatnagar in Sabarkantha district. The budgatory provision has also been made for the same for this year.

In spite of deep desire and efforts of Honorary Chief Minister and long pending wish of farmers of Gujarat, due to some reasons, the Veterinary University failed to come up in the state.

Government sources provide different information like there are several executive committees which have been formed for this purpose; one of the executive committee has already taken a decision on the location of the university while other information comes as the Law department is yet to examine the report of proposal for the University.