- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Mon, 05 May 2025 12:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a bid to make destitute cow protection centers self-reliant, the Uttar Pradesh government will promote the use of paint made from cow dung. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to use this natural paint in government buildings across the state, while also ramping up the number of plants producing it.
Chairing a review meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department on Sunday, the Chief Minister emphasised the crucial role of animal husbandry and dairy in strengthening the rural economy. He highlighted the potential for livelihood generation, nutrition security, and women empowerment through innovations and investment in these sectors.
Yogi also called for the organisation of divisional-level competitions between indigenous cow breeds and cow-product manufacturers. He stressed that concrete steps should be taken to make cow protection centers self-sustaining. Outstanding shelters will be identified and honored for their performance.
In 2024–25, the state recorded a daily milk production of 3.97 lakh liters—an increase of 10 per cent over the previous year. Membership in cooperative milk committees rose by 8 per cent, and 24,031 milk producers were trained. Major milk unions in districts like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Mirzapur, Mathura, and Basti saw earnings exceeding Rs 8.18 crore.
For 2025–26, the government aims to establish 4,922 new cooperative milk committees and train 21,922 committees. Currently, 11.49 lakh cows are being cared for in 7,693 cow shelters across the state.
To enhance self-reliance, biogas plants are being set up in Varanasi and Muzaffarnagar, while large-scale centers in Bareilly are in the process of establishing organic fertilizer and cow urine processing units.
The meeting also noted the successful freeing of 40,968.29 hectares of grazing land from encroachment. The Chief Minister directed that each shelter must have caretakers, a straw bank, adequate water, green fodder, and bran. Under the Chief Minister's Nirashrit Govansh Sahyog Yojana, poor families without livestock will be provided with cows.
Additional directives were issued to increase milk production, expand the network of primary cooperative societies, and enhance training for members across the state.