March 20, 2013
Bihar state in India sees livestock farming as source of livelihood
Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Giriraj Singh told the legislative assembly that it was imperative to develop sectors like poultry farming and fisheries as alternative avenues of income as majority of the people depend on agriculture for sustaining their livelihood.
The development of poultry and fisheries as alternative sources of livelihood was also necessary as there is huge demand of chickens, eggs and fish in Bihar worth thousands of crores rupees every year, he said replying to debate on his department's budget for INR950 crore (US$175 million) for 2013-14.
Singh said the department has launched several schemes like providing goats free of cost to the poor besides subsidies to take up poultry and fisheries activities.
With Bihar having nine lakh acre wetland, the potential for fisheries farming and generation of electricity through alternative sources like solar was huge, he said adding the department has launched a scheme in which the people could opt for fish farming and generate electricity on the structure above the shed.
