300 Gir cows arrive at Gorukhuti Dairy Farm from Gujarat

OUR CORRESPONDENT

MANGALDAI: Since the midnight of April 2, the goods shed of Rangia railway junction was almost transformed into a welcome function with festive atmosphere as the highly enthusiastic veterinary officials of Darrang and Rangia and the volunteers of 'Project Gorukhuti' were seen waiting eagerly to extend a cordial reception to a total of 300 Gir cows on their arrival from Gujarat.

Veterinary Officer and in charge of Gorukhuti Dairy Farm, Dr Jugabrata Nath, despite downpour received the cows on the wee hours of Friday on behalf of Project Gorukhuti and with the help of the volunteers, helped the cows in embarking to 30 trucks for their onward journey to Gorukhuti. Former activist of Assam Movement, Naba Kumar Deka also accompanied Dr. Jugabrata Nath this morning. Mention may be made here that Darrang district administration for the smooth transportation of the cows provided 30 trucks.

Project Gorukhuti, the dream project initiated by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma under the dynamic leadership of former AASU activist-cum- Sootea legislator Padma Hazarika at the fertile alluvial soil of Gorukhuti area of Sipajhar in Darrang district once encroached upon by the organized encroachers, is not only going to be a ideal agriculture project with the involvement indigenous young farmers, it is also going to be transformed into an ideal dairy farm in the State.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during his visit to Gorukhuti in Darrang district on June 7, had made a commitment to evict the encroachers from the government land and to engage the indigenous unemployed youths in carrying out multilayer cropping and adopting the organic way of farming. The Assam Government for this purpose constituted 'Project Gorukhuti' taking Sootea legislator Padma Hazarika as its Chairman and Mangaldai Parliamentarian Dilip Saikia, both the legislators Dr. Paramananda Rajbongshi of Sipajhar and Mrinal Saikia of Khumtai as the members of the Project. The State Government also has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 9.6 crore to 'Project Gorukhuti' and accorded the rank and status of Cabinet Minister to Padma Hazarika.

Immediately after the eviction drive in Dhalpur and Gorukhuti area on September 20 and September 23 2021, Project Gorukhuti started cultivation of Mati Mah (urad), Til (sesame) and mustard oil seed and simultaneously started the proposed dairy farm. Two hundred Gir cattle purchased from Gujarat have already been accommodated in three hygienic and well spacious cow sheds at Gorukhuti. With the 300 Gir cows arriving on Saturday, the Dairy Farm at Gorukhuti now has a total of 500 cows.

A temporary shed has been constructed to accommodate the newly-arrived cows, said chairman of Project Gorukhuti, Padma Hazarika while talking to The Sentinel on Sunday morning. He also added that a total of 2,000 cows, including Sahiwal breed, would be accommodated in the dairy farm. "The Gir breed is one of the principal Zebu breeds originating in India which has been used locally to improve the other breeds, namely Red Sindhi and Sahiwal. The Gir breed has also been used to develop the Brahman breed in North America," replied Padma Hazarika on being asked on the specialty of the Gir breeds.

Meanwhile, Project Gorukhuti, with the assistance and supervision of the District Veterinary department has started planting Napier and other grass to be used as the cattle feed in the abandoned land of District Vocational Training Centre at Dalgaon and the adjoining areas of Gorukhuti.

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