Shillong, May 9: State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister, Sanbor Shullai said that the price of beef has gone up mostly due to illegal transportation of cattle.
Shullai informed that the BSF most recently on May 2 seized cattle which were supposed to be smuggled into Bangladesh.
He informed that the BSF is mandated to prevent all smuggling activities including cattle smuggling through international border.
Also, this responsibility is given to the local district administration having the international border in its jurisdiction.
The Minister said that the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary department held several meetings with BSF, Customs and Police to address the issue of cattle smuggling.
“The department has notified livestock and poultry check posts at six entry points of the state for checking of vehicles carrying cattle and verification of transit permits in order to prevent unauthorised transportation of cattle as well as to detect smuggling of cattle,†Shullai informed.
He said that the check posts are being set up at Umling entry point, Jirang, Umkiang, Bajengdoba, Trikrikila, Aradong.
The Minister informed that the check post at Umling entry point has been made operational and officials are checking livestock vehicles to detect unauthorised transportation cattle.
Shullai also said that steps are being taken to make the state self-sufficient in beef.
According to him, the cattle population in the State is about nine lakhs.
“Sixty percent of the beef requirement in the state is met through import from other states. The government has made several interventions to increase cattle population and beef production through artificial insemination of local cattle population with improved indigenous and exotic breeds, incentives to farmers, expanding cattle farms,†the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister said.
Also the department has introduced six Ongole bulls on experimental basis to cross with local cattle population to increase cattle population as well as beef production.
Shullai informed that 2000 Ongole bull semen straws were procured from Andhra Pradesh for artificial insemination of local cattle population.
The department is also planning to improve five lakhs local cattle using ongole semen to increase population and beef production.
Shullai also informed that incentives to farmers totalling to Rs 2.57 crore fund has been sanctioned for encouraging artificial insemination in cows and about 2.57 lakhs local cows will be covered using semen straws of improved indigenous and exotic breed.