Saturday, August 19 2006 10:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) yesterday (Aug 18, 2006)approved a Rs 698 crore special package for live stock and fisheries in 31 suicide-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.

The Rs 698-crore package for 16 districts of AP, six each of Maharashtra and Karnataka and three districts of Kerala consists of a budgetary support of Rs 510.79 crore and credit component of Rs 187.21 crore to be implemented over a three-year period beginning 2006-07, an official spokesperson said.

The package includes induction of high yielding milch animals, calf rearing programme, providing cattle/buffalo breeding services provision of health care to dairy animals, establishment of milk chilling units and fooder block making units and fisheries programme.

The spokesperson said 1000 high yielding animals would be inducted per district per year so that small and marginal farmers who are more vulnerable to economic distress will have an alternative source of income.

For the farmers would be provided subsidy to the extend of 50 per cent of the cost of purchase of animals, with balance coming through loan from banks.

Besides, 500 female calves per district per year would also be inducted, for which 50 per cent subsidy on the rearing cost of the calf animals for a period of one year would be provided.

The package also includes exempting farmers from paying for Artifical Insemination services for all breedable cattle and buffaloes in the 31 districts while also providing free health care services to animals for one year.

The spokesperson said the CCEA as part of the package also approved establishment of dairy units in the four states to produce 600 tonnes of milk per day and provided for 50 per cent subsidy for setting up of fodder block making units in each district.

"Farmers would be encouraged to supplement income through fisheries by creation of water bodies, for which cent percent subsidy would be provided by the Government," the spokesperson added.