06 September 2024, New Delhi: In a bid to promote sustainable farming and enhance the economic viability of gaushalas (cow shelter) across India, a task force led by NITI Aayog released a comprehensive report focusing on the production and promotion of organic and biofertilizers. The report underscores the potential of gaushalas (cow shelters) in contributing to natural and organic farming, helping reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers while addressing the growing issue of stray cattle.
Gaushalas have long played a critical role in protecting and preserving cattle, particularly indigenous breeds. However, many gaushalas face financial challenges due to limited sources of income. The task force report highlights the opportunity to turn cattle by-products, such as cow dung and urine, into valuable organic fertilizers and bioenergy, which can serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers. This, in turn, can provide a stable income stream for gaushalas while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Why Gaushalas Are Required
Gaushalas play a crucial role in providing care and shelter to stray, abandoned, and unproductive cattle, which have become a growing concern in both rural and urban areas of India. According to the 20th Livestock Census, India has over 19 crore cattle, and a significant portion of them are either unproductive or male, making them vulnerable to abandonment. With cattle no longer being used for draught power and many farmers abandoning them once they stop producing milk, these animals often roam freely, causing damage to crops and contributing to road accidents. Gaushalas provide a humane solution by offering sanctuary to these animals while also helping to address issues related to stray cattle in agricultural and urban areas. Additionally, gaushalas play an important role in preserving indigenous cattle breeds and promoting animal welfare, aligned with traditional values and sustainable farming practices.
Are Gaushalas Profitable?
While gaushalas serve a vital social and environmental function, their financial sustainability remains a challenge. Most gaushalas rely heavily on donations from the public and government grants, which are often insufficient to cover operating expenses such as feed, fodder, and veterinary care. Studies have shown that a large percentage of gaushalas operate at a loss, with donations accounting for up to 82% of their income in some states. However, the report emphasizes that gaushalas can become profitable by diversifying their income streams. By producing and marketing organic fertilizers, biogas, and cow-based products like bio-pesticides, gaushalas can generate steady revenue. For example, some gaushalas have already successfully implemented biogas plants and organic fertilizer production, turning cow dung and urine into valuable products. With proper support and business models, gaushalas have the potential to be financially viable and even profitable in the long term.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The report identifies the need for better utilization of cow dung and urine, which can be processed into products like Phosphate Rich Organic Manure (PROM), biogas, and bio-fertilizers. These products not only enhance soil fertility but also reduce environmental degradation caused by the overuse of chemical fertilizers.
Some of the key recommendations from the report include:
Integration with Natural Farming: Gaushalas can become major suppliers of organic inputs for natural farming, which is gaining traction as a chemical-free alternative to conventional agriculture.
Public-Private Partnerships: The report encourages collaboration between gaushalas, private enterprises, and government bodies to create scalable production models for organic fertilizers and bioenergy.
Financial Sustainability: Diversification of income through the sale of organic fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and energy products like Bio-CNG can make gaushalas financially sustainable in the long term.
Support from Government Schemes: To boost organic fertilizer production, the report calls for policy support, including subsidies and incentives for gaushalas that adopt organic fertilizer production methods.
A Path Toward Sustainability
The task force emphasizes that integrating gaushalas into the larger framework of organic farming and sustainable agriculture can have far-reaching benefits. With a focus on improving economic viability and utilizing cattle by-products effectively, gaushalas can play a pivotal role in addressing India’s environmental and agricultural challenges.
In addition to supporting gaushalas, the initiative also aims to create employment opportunities and strengthen India’s push towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) by reducing the country’s dependence on chemical fertilizers.
This report offers a roadmap for transforming gaushalas into self-sustaining entities that contribute significantly to India’s agricultural sector while addressing the issue of abandoned and stray cattle.
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