(T.E.T)
The Niti Aayog is working on a road map to develop the ‘gaushala (cow shelter) economy’ to enable commercial use of cow urine and cow dung for multiple purposes, both in India and abroad, said people aware of the matter. A team of government officials under Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand has been visiting big gaushalas in Vrindavan, Rajasthan and other parts of India to assess their conditions and accordingly submit a report with a road map to give a fillip to the gaushala economy. The report, outlining the economic potential of cattle and the measures needed to harness the gaushala economy, will be submitted soon, a senior government official told ET. “The idea is to make gaushalas economically viable. With a focus on natural farming, there is immense potential for use of cow urine and cow dung in natural farming,” said the official, who did not wish to be identified. According to the official, Indian cattle become unproductive assets once their milk output is reduced. “With a focus on other products from the cattle, they can continue to be a revenue generator for the gaushalas and the country as a whole,” said the official.
Other than its use as fertiliser, cow urine has extensive demand in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and herbal products. Besides, cow dung can be converted into gaukasth or logs made of cow dung which can be used in crematoriums .Madhya Pradesh has taken a lead in the country by incentivising farmers to rear cattle and undertake natural farming. The state has also set up cow sanctuaries and shelters to take proper care of its cattle and the models could be replicated across India. According to the National Dairy Development Board, India had 192.5 million cattle in 2019 and 109.9 million buffaloes, taking the total bovine population to 302.3 million. The number, according to Statista, grew to more than 305 million in 2021, the highest in the world, with the global cattle population at 996 million.
