NITI Aayog task force suggests cow dung, cow urine to boost organic matter in soil

The task force has made these recommendations in its report — ‘Production and Promotion of Organic and Bio Fertilisers with Special Focus on Improving Economic Viability of Gaushalas” — which was released by Chand on Friday.

The report states, “India’s soils are getting depleted of organic matter. If application of organic manure and such other sources to soil is not increased, the country will face serious sustainability challenges. Promoting use of cow dung manure will go a long way to improve economy of gaushalas, support natural farming and improve sustainability of agriculture. Therefore, cow dung and cow urine should be encouraged to be applied as plant nutrient supplement in farming. Also, innovative mechanism need to be put in place to mandate fertiliser selling and manufacturing agencies to sell inorganic and organic fertiliser in some ratio.”

The 17-member task force includes members from Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

According to the task force report, “Public sector institutions and parastatals should be mandated to market organic and bio fertilisers produced by gaushalas. They should also be encouraged to set up cow dung-based organic fertiliser plants.”

Recommending incentives for gaushalas, the report says, “Gaushalas should be liberally financed for making capital investments and working expenses at concessional rates of interest. All grants should be linked to the number of cows (more emphasis should be on dry, rescued or abandoned cattle).”

“Gaushalas should be helped to create additional sources of income by making investments in solar plants on its buildings and solar trees in the land with gaushalas,” it adds.

“The standards prescribed for cow dung-based organic fertilisers in the Fertiliser Control Order of the GoI (Government of India) should be revisited for wider inclusion of cow dung and cow urine-based products. Existing testing facilities for organic fertiliser, including recommendations thereof, should be extended to all existing and new formulations of products based on cow dung,” it says.

The task force has also suggested a new portal like Darpan of the NITI Aayog for online registration of all gaushalas. “These registered gaushala will be eligible to get support from animal welfare board,” it says.

According to the task force, the Animal Welfare Board of India may open Pradhan Mantri Pashu Aushadhi Kendra in these gaushala to address gaps in animal health sector. Also, the National Dairy Development Board may support gaushalas in marketing of dairy products and provisions of feed, fodder and ethno-veterinary practices, it says.

Quoting a study, the report says , “The total cost of running a gaushala of 1,000 cows works out to Rs 1,18,182 per day, including land, while without land it is around Rs 82,475. The survey shows that the income from the sale of products from gaushalas contributes only 30 per cent, while the rest is contributed by the combined receipts from donations, grants and miscellaneous sources. The total income per day for a unit of 1,000 cows is only Rs 50,074. This leaves large revenue gaps and renders gaushalas economically nonviable.”

The report further says, “Gaushalas themselves lack capacity to market compost and other organic fertiliser produced by them and there is no organised market and buyer for their produce. Public sector fertiliser distribution agencies like IFFCO, KRIBHCO and such state level agencies should be mandated to market standardised organic and bio fertilisers produced by gaushalas.” The task force also suggests that gram panchayat should be involved in providing support to gaushalas for creation of fodder bank through MNREGA scheme.