NATIONAL SEMINAR ON COW AND BIO-DIVERSITY ORGANISED BY LOVE 4 COW TRUST HELD AT INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (IIC), LODI ESTATE, NEW DELHI-110003 ON 30TH NOVEMBER, 2001.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Board of Trustees of the Love4Cow Trust place on record their gratitude with great sense of appreciation to all the dignitaries, the speakers, the guests and the sponsors for their guidance, support and overwhelming response to this first ever initiative for an integrated approach to the issue of cow and bio-diversity at the National level in the non-governmental sector. We owe the success of the Seminar to you all.

30th November, the day of the Seminar was an auspicious day. It was Kartik Poornima, it was the day for Ganga Snan, it was the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev ji (Guru Parav), the holy month of Ramzan and Friday the Prayer day.

The summary recommendations of the Seminar are published in this document as also the addresses delivered by the dignitaries in the inaugural session and the velidictary session.

We do hope that this effort will find use for the policy planners, administrators, cow-lovers and all those who are concerned about our traditional culture, knowledge and wisdom as also our environment and its bio-diversity.

NATIONAL SEMINAR ON COW AND BIO-DIVERSITY ORGANISED BY LOVE 4 COW TRUST HELD AT INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (IIC), LODI ESTATE, NEW DELHI-110003 ON 30TH NOVEMBER, 2001.

SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS

Love4Cow Trust, a registered public charitable Trust has organized a one-day National Seminar on the theme of Cow and Bio-Diversity on 30th November, 2001 (Friday) at India International Centre (IIC), Lodi Estate, New Delhi. The purpose of the Seminar was to focus on the contribution of cow in maintaining the bio-diversity in the eco-system and its economic and scientific value to the mankind.

2. The Seminar was inaugurated by Shri Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav, Hon'ble Minister of State for Agriculture and was presided by Shri Shripad Naik, Hon'ble Minister of State for Shipping. Shri Som Pal former Minister of State for Agriculture and presently Member, Planning Commission delivered the key note address. Shri Dharampal, Chairman, National Cattle Commission and Justice Guman Mal Lodha, Chairman, Animal Welfare Board also briefly addressed the Seminar during the inaugural session. Shri J.N.L. Srivastava, Secretary (Agriculture & Cooperation) gave opening remarks in the Seminar. Mrs Asha Swami, President Love 4 Cow Trust read the welcome address. The valedictory session was summarized by Dr. V.K. Taneja, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Government of India.

3. Shri Bhure Lal, Chairman, Food Corporation of India, Shri Ashok Pradhan, Special Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation were present on the occasion as Special Guests. Shri K.C. Khandelwal, Adviser, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy, Shri J.S. Negi, Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Smt. Chitra Gauri Lal, Member Secretary, National Cattle Commission, Dr. Kiran Singh, DDG, ICAR and Dr. S.P. Singh, Project Directorate on Cattle at Meerut were present besides other officers of the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, ICAR, Department of Animal Care, Ministry of Forest & Environment and the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy. The representatives of the National Cattle Commission, Animal Welfare Board, Gaushalas and other organizations engaged in the related field were the other participants besides cow lovers.

4. The Speakers who delivered their talks during the technical session were - Dr. K.C. Khandelwal, Adviser, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy on Cow and Gobar Gas Plants, Dr. R.M. Acharya, DDG(Retd), ICAR on Indian Breeds of Cows and their conservation, Dr. Pratap Chauhan, Director, Jiva Institute, Faridabad on Medicinal value of Panchgavya. Padamshri T.G.K. Menon from Indore, Shri Mukesh Gupta, Project Director, Morarka Foundation, Jaipur and Shri Ajit Grewal from Shanti Niketan, New Delhi delivered their talks on bio-dynamics, cow dung and urine as manure and organic farming. Dr. K.B. Jadhav, President, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh spsoke on the utility of Govansh to the small farmer and Shri Rampal Aggarwal, All India Goshala Federation briefly detailed the cow sanctuaries project concept. Shri Virender Jain from Gomutra Chikitsa Kendra, Indore explained in detail the medicinal value of cow urine and shared the experiences. Acharya Baldev from Rashtriya Goshala Dhadoli, Haryana shared his experiences on cow breeding and improvement of the indigenous breed.

5. All the Speakers including Guest Speakers underlined the importance of cow, the traditional importance of cow in our culture, economy and environment. It was emphasized that the Indian cows were unique and distinctive in their appearance and characteristics. The Panchgavya of Indian cows has medicinal, economic and scientific basis and there was need for more research in the area. Cow as focal point could not only help in maintaining the bio-diversity but could also provide a source of livelihood and help in poverty alleviation . It was the unanimous view that there was need for conservation, protection of Indian cow and its progeny and its samvardhan was necessary as central to the bio-chain. Emphasis was also laid on developing Gaushalas as Govansh Vikas Kendras and focus on veterinary care as also health and nutrition of the cattle. The availability of cow milk, cow curd, cow ghee, setting up of gobar gas plants, large scale organic farming and production of fodder emerged as the thrust areas.

6. After the detailed presentations and deliberations, the following recommendations emerged in the Seminar:-

i) Need for policy shift in the Tenth Plan:

(a) It came out in the Seminar that the indigenous breed of cows were economical vis-à-vis cross breeds, if we take into account the cost of feed, cost of up-keeping and the number of lactations which Indian cows produce during their life time. If the value of cow dung and urine for bio-fertilizers and bullock power for agriculture and transportation is also included then the development of cross-breeds is of no use. Thus from pure economic sustainability, it was felt that a shift in the focus of plan and policies was needed from development of cross-breeds to the improvement, conservation and Samvardhan of indigenous breeds of cow.

(b) Serious concerns were expressed in the Seminar about the erosion in the soil fertility and decline in productivity of agriculture crops. It was noted that the cost of agriculture production has been very high on account of use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, exploitation of ground water and the costly high yielding variety seeds. The foodgrain production levels have been obtained at a higher cost and at the cost of the fertility and health of soil as also the quality of the food produced. The only remedy to restore the balance was organic farming and the cow and its progeny and other animals could provide the solution. Therefore, a shift in the policy and programmes was needed for encouraging on a massive scale the use of cow dung, cow urine and bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides as a long term measure for sustainable and healthy agriculture production at reduced costs.

(c) The experts and the Speakers were of the opinion that it was the only agriculture sector which has potential for growth and employment opportunities. The Animal Husbandry and in particular, the rearing of cow and its progeny was a viable alternative for removing poverty in the rural and semi-urban areas and providing employment opportunities for a long term sustainable economic growth.

(d) To some up, it was suggested in the Seminar that an integrated approach was necessary rather than the sectoral approach and that cow and its progeny and other animals as focal point have the potential for sustainable agriculture production, health and nutrition of humans, production of bio-fertilizers, production of non-conventional energy and for maintaining the bio-diversity of the eco system.

ii) Conservation, improvement, Samvardhan and protection of indigenous breeds of cows:

a) Keeping in view the unique appearance, characteristics and scientific value of the indigenous breeds, the Seminar was of the view that indigenous breed of cows needs to be conserved. There were in all about 32 breeds and a targeted programme should be launched through Gaushalas for their conservation and Samvardhan. There was also need to set up cattle research centers for improving the indigenous breed, their fertility and productivity & quality. A massive campaign was required to save the Indian breeds from extinction and deterioration.

b) It was emphasized during the Seminar that cow was central to the bio-chain and was capable of maintaining the bio-diversity. Therefore, the Samvardhan of cow and its progeny should be an integral part of the policies. It was noted that the details of the livestock census - 1997 were not available and the next census has already become due for 2002. There were apprehensions that there has been decline in growth of the cattle population and it was necessary to adopt measures which will help in restoring the positive growth rate which in turn will help maintaining the fertility of the land and the bio-diversity of the eco-system. The need to protect indigenous breed of cow and its progeny came out very explicitly and it was felt that if necessary, legislative measures may also be introduced.

c) It was suggested that an International Conference may be organized to deal with the cow protection at the global level.

iii) Veterinary and Health Care:

It was emphasized that the health and nutrition of the animal in general and the cattle in particular were equally important. A hand book containing various aspects of veterinary care ,immunization, health and nutritional requirements and ways and means to supplement would be very helpful. It was also felt that a campaign for eradication of foot and mouth disease may be launched on the lines of pulse polio programme for children.

iv) Fodder production:

Concerns were expressed in the Seminar for non-availability of fodder for the cattle. The availability of free grazing land had shrunk rapidly and the hybrid variety crops do not produce adequate fodder. This was a disincentive for rearing cattle. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation which is concerned with the agriculture production may take up fodder production as an integral part of their agriculture policy.

v) Govansh Vikas Kendras (GVKs):

There were about 4000 Gaushalas in the country. The Gaushalas have to be integrated in the development of cattle wealth. Forward integration of Gaushalas was necessary to make these as economically sustainable activity. The Gaushalas could contribute immensely in improvement and conservation of Indian breeds, setting up of Gobar Gas Plants, production of cow dung manure and research on medicinal values of Panchgavya. This could be achieved if Gaushalas are declared as Govansh Vikas Kendras with an integrated approach. The State Governments may identify best of the Gaushalas for this purpose and a Centrally Sponsored Scheme could trigger the process.

vi) Gobar Gas Plants:

The cow dung was an important source of production of non-conventional energy. This energy was a substitute for fire wood and electricity and will take the pressure off from the forest and power generation. To begin with all Gaushalas and Gosadans and like may be advised to set up gobar gas plants. The slurry (residue) could also be used for production of manure.

vii) Organic farming:

a) It came very loud and clear that excessive use of chemical fertilizers has eroded the fertility of the soil. Micro-nutrients which are very essential to the plant health are now missing from the soil. The only remedial measure is to introduce bio-mass to the soil through bio- fertilizers. The absence of micro-nutrients in soil and in turn in the plants was affecting the health of both the animal and the human. Therefore, the organic farming must be taken up on a large scale as a thrust area for the sustainable and healthy development of agriculture.

b) It was also suggested th