Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday transferred a total of Rs 5.60 crore into the bank accounts of cattle-rearing organizations, women's self-help groups, and "gauthan" (cow shelter) committees as part of the Godhan Nyay Yojana.
At a gathering at his official residence in this city, Baghel electronically transferred the funds and urged representatives of the agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry departments to produce better-quality pesticides and "Jeevamrut," or liquid organic fertilizer, from cow urine purchased through the programme.
According to a government official, the CM distributed Rs 2.17 crore to farmers who raise cattle and to villages in exchange for the purchase of cow dung from them. He also distributed Rs 2.07 crore and Rs 1.37 crore to gauthan committees and SHGs, respectively.
In July 2020, the state government introduced the programme, under which cow manure is purchased from "gauthans" (cow shelters) for Rs 2 per kilogramme and used to create vermicompost.
The state government began purchasing cow pee under the programme last month in a few selected gauthans for Rs 4 per litre. According to the CM, a total of Rs 322.94 crore has so far been distributed to various beneficiary categories under GNY.
The state government has purchased cow dung for more than Rs 155.58 crore during the previous two years. In order to support organic farming, the SHGs prepared over 22 lakh quintals of vermicompost, super compost, and super compost plus fertilizers from cow dung, the speaker claimed.
Vermicompost is sold to farmers at reasonable prices by cooperative organizations. According to him, the initiative has so far distributed Rs 156.36 crore to SHGs and gauthan committees.
The CM claimed that the Godhan Nyay Yojana was the only programme of its kind in the nation and that vermicompost made from cow excrement has begun to provide promising results.
According to input from farmers, using organic manure has softened the soil, making it easier to cultivate. Additionally, organic manure improves soil fertility, according to him. Baghel instructed the officials to produce higher-quality pest control products at the meeting.
