Daily Financial News Analysis – 24th Nov’20

Table of Contents

Cow Dung for Rural Economy

A cow generates approximately 9-15 kg of cow dung per day.
Traditionally, the cow dung is already used in India as a fuel, mosquito repellent or a cleansing agent.
Cow dung is one of the cheapest and abundantly available bio-resources on our planet.
Chhattisgarh Govt – ‘Godhan Nyaya Yojana’ was launched on July 20
The Govt strived to spin the wheels of the state’s economy with something as constantly available and negligible as cow dung.
The Godhan Nyay Yojna aims at the promotion of
1. Organic farming
2. Creation of new employment opportunities
3. Fusion of animal husbandry with sustainability
4. Multi-dimensional utilisation of Gauthans created under the ‘Narva Garva Ghuruva Bari Yojana’ of the ‘Suraji Village Scheme’.
A gauthan is a dedicated 5-acre plot, held in common by each village.
With a total of 6,430 Gauthans in the state, 3,726 Gauthans of the state are actively engaged in the procurement of cow dung.
Cow dung is purchased from the villagers and cow dung collectors at the cost of Rs 2 per kg.
Since the initiation of the Yojana, 2,10,017 beneficiaries have registered themselves in the state, and 1,32,855 cattlemen have been benefited, within July 20 up till November 5, 2020.
There has been a progressive increase in the number of cattle herders from 64,007 in July 2020 to 1,32,855 currently, due to the merits of the scheme.
The cow dung procured is used for myriad purposes like the production of organic manure or Gaudhan Vermi Compost.
It is prepared by the self-help groups in the Vermi tanks and is sold at the rate of Rs 8 per kg.
9,906 quintals of vermicompost have been produced in the state, by the medium of 48,304 Vermi tanks by 1,641 self-help groups.
More than 16,000 vermi tanks are under construction.
The Gaudhan Vermi Compost is then being sold via QR code imprinted in the packets, with the sale of 1,459 quintals of Gaudhan vermicompost.
A total of 1,793 members of 220 women self-help groups, were engaged in various activities under the Yojana, which earned them a whopping income of Rs 44.25 lakh, with an average of Rs 2,468 earned by each woman.
Additionally, sheds, storage rooms and washrooms have been constructed in various Gauthans, keeping in mind the convenience of the members of the women self-help groups.
Additional activities under the Yojana includes the practice of pisciculture in 358 ponds of the Mungeli and Jashpur District respectively.
Livelihood activities based on the production or culturing of quail, fish, sugar, bee, sweet potato and ginger, is administered smoothly in Balrampur.
Floriculture based livelihood activities are witnessing a spurt in Dhamtari and mushroom cultivation is taking place in BalodaBazar.
Regarding the special activities, 34 rural industrial parks leading to Gauthan Self sufficiency, Kosa silk production in six hectares of land, lemongrass cultivation in three acres of land and apiculture is practised in the Kabirdham District.
One of the major achievements of the ‘Godhan Nyay Yojna’ has been the installation of biogas plants and it’s supplied in Anganwadi centres and homes in Bijapur and Bastar district.
Durg district was shining brightly amid Diwali, with a wave of sustainability in the market with cow dung diyas all around in various forms, shapes, texture and colours.
The markets of the state were flooded with gobar/cow dung diyas and earthen pots this Diwali, which were a much cheaper and sustainable option, for people of the state.
These diyas intrigued people and promoted them to take a step forward towards ensuring sustainability, by making an outstanding income of Rs 6.69 lakh, just from cow dung diyas and 47,000 flowering pots in Diwali.
Additionally, an income of Rs 4.50 lakh was generated via vegetable cultivation or badis, in the district.
Today, cow dung has transformed itself into a form of currency in the state, which narrates the tales of self-reliance, employment creation, organic farming, sustainability and futuristic approach towards development.
The much-neglected cow dung has started yielding prosperous results for the cattle herders and the cow dung collectors now.