Raipur: Extending the scope of one of its flagship schemes—Godhan Nyay Yojana—Chhattisgarh Government has approved procurement of cow urine which will commence from ‘Hareli Tihar’ falling on July 28 this year. The Gauthan Management Committee will be able to fix the rate of purchasing cow urine at the local level. A minimum rate of Rs.4 per litre has been proposed by the Department of Agriculture Development and Farmers Welfare and Biotechnology, Government of Chhattisgarh. The procured cow urine will be used to prepare ‘Jeevamrit’ (organic liquid fertilizer) and pest control products by local women Self-Help Groups. The selected groups will also be given proper training for this in collaboration with the Directorate of Veterinary Services and Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
Godhan Nyay Mission Managing Director Dr. Ayyaz Tamboli has instructed all the district collectors to ensure necessary preparations in this regard. He has said that the Gauthan Management Committees will purchase cow urine from the amount of funds available in their respective bank accounts under the Godhan Nyay Yojana and revolving fund interest. He has directed the collectors to select two self-supporting Gauthans for the implementation of this initiative besides selecting women self-help groups and arrangement for training of members of Gauthan Management Committees and women self-help groups. They have also been asked to make all necessary arrangements for the Cow urine test kits and storage of products produced. Collectors have been asked to make available the list of selected Gauthans and self-help groups on e-mail dirvet.cg@gmail.com at the earliest.
Meanwhile, procurement of cow dung in Gauthans was started two years back on July 20, 2020 on the occasion of Hareli festival under the Godhan Nyay Yojana. So far, more than 20 lakh quintals of Vermi Compost, Super Compost, Super Plus Compost have been produced by women self-help groups in Gauthans using cow dung. This has facilitated in the promotion of organic farming in state. Purchase of cow urine will be proven beneficial in taking a step ahead towards promoting organic farming. This will also provide an additional income to the cattle owners and women Self-Help groups. Farmers will be able to use ‘Jeevamrit’ and cow urine pest control product instead of chemical insecticide, which will reduce the cost of agriculture and decrease risk of food poisoning. Godhan Nyay Yojana has proved to be a very popular scheme in the rural areas of the state. Under this scheme, cow dung worth more than Rs 150 crores has been purchased from the cattle rearers in about two years. An amount of more than Rs 143 crore has been paid to women self-help groups and Gauthan committees through the production and sale of vermi compost made using cow dung.
