Panaji, April 11 Dairy farming support schemes launched by the Goa government are helping revive rural livelihoods in the Bicholim taluka, with several beneficiaries praising the role of subsidies for cattle, equipment, and fodder in transforming traditional farming into viable commercial ventures.
Officials from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department stated that the Mukhyamantri Sudharit Kamdhenu Yojana, along with dairy equipment and fodder support initiatives, is strengthening the state's push for self-reliance in milk production under the "Swayampurna Goa" program.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries are provided high-yielding cows, stall-fed sheds, and access to modern milking machines, which helps improve productivity, milk quality, and hygiene standards, officials said.
Dr. Gayatridas Gauthankar from the department said that the Kamdhenu scheme, launched in 2012 under then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, currently supports around 170 to 180 farmer beneficiaries in the Bicholim jurisdiction.
He said that farmers can purchase up to 10 milch animals, including Jersey cross, Holstein-Friesian cross, and indigenous breeds, with a 90 per cent subsidy on a slab rate of Rs 70,000 per animal.
"This reduces the farmer's contribution to around Rs 7,000 per animal, while transport cost and 42-month insurance are fully covered by the department," the senior official said, adding that beneficiaries are required to maintain the animals for three-and-a-half years under a bond.
Several beneficiaries said the scheme has helped them revive or expand dairy farming.
Vishal Naik from Borde village in Bicholim said that his family had discontinued dairy farming nearly 20 years ago due to low profits, despite following the tradition for three generations.
"After learning about the scheme, we applied for assistance to procure 20 cows. Ten cows were provided with 90 per cent subsidy, and the remaining ten with 75 per cent subsidy, along with milk incentives," he said.
Naik said that the support allowed them to restart operations without major initial investment and expand it into a profitable business employing six couples for farm work.
Another beneficiary, Sudin Khambal from Ladfem village, said that his family shifted from traditional cattle farming to a modern dairy setup in 2019 with the help of the scheme.
He said that the subsidy support significantly lowered the entry barrier for new farmers, while insurance coverage protected them from financial losses in case of cattle deaths.
Anant Malik, also from Ladfem, said that he began dairy farming seven years ago with four cows to support agriculture, but later expanded commercially after availing of benefits under the scheme.
He said that integrated farming, combined with dairy and agriculture, can help Goa achieve self-sufficiency in milk production while generating employment for local youth.
Officials said that fodder availability has also improved through technical training provided by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Goa, enabling farmers to convert available land into high-yield grass cultivation for sustained livestock feeding.
They said that the integrated support model, covering livestock, sheds, equipment, insurance, and fodder, is emerging as a key component of the state government's rural livelihood strategy.