The Tamil Nadu government announced on Wednesday that Rs 396 cr animal husbandry Park, the biggest multidisciplinary facility in Asia including facilities for bovine, dairy and fisheries resources will be set up in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the facility would come up at Thalaivasal in Salem district in over 900 acres of land, belonging to the Animal Husbandry Department.
In the State Assembly, it was said that the park will have a modern veterinary hospital, a milch farm to highlight latest farm techniques, a facility to house local dog breeds and a business incubation center to create value added products from milk, meat and egg among others.
Veterinary students from the country as well as foreign countries could take up research activities here
In the budget released recently, the Tamil Nadu government had dedicated huge amount of money towards agriculture and allied sectors including animal husbandry, accounting to a total of about Rs 10550 cr.
Animal husbandry contributes significantly in supplementing the income of small, marginal farmers and landless laborers and in generating gainful employment opportunities especially self-employment to a substantial number of rural and urban population. As per the official website of TN Animal Husbandry Department, it has special departments for dairy and fisheries. It also states that Animal Husbandry Department plays a major role in providing veterinary health care and improving the genetic production potentialities of livestock and poultry reared in the State. Apart from this, various beneficiary oriented schemes are also being implemented for the economic upliftment and welfare of the poor, downtrodden and weaker sections of the society.