In order to encourage scientific rearing of pigs in stys or stalls, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has embarked upon a training programme for the Erukula community to enable commercial rearing.
The first batch of trainees for the 13-day programme was inaugurated by Minister for Finance and Civil Supplies Etala Rajender in Huzurabad town on Sunday. The trainees are women of the Erukula community, which is a Scheduled Tribe, from a self-help group in Huzurabad mandal.
The programme was tailormade to promote pig rearing as an economic income-generating activity and includes the support of Spandana, an NGO, in Huzurabad. The NGO would provide information on rearing pigs in a shed or stall. Traditionally, pigs are allowed to run around the villages and scavenge for their food.
Nutritional value
The workshop would help in aspects such as improving nutrition value and feed to meat conversion efficiency. Following these methods, the pigs would grow faster and reproduce better.
NABARD AGM R. Ravi Babu explained the support provided by the Union government under the National Livestock Mission. He said the government was offering 25% subsidy to pig rearing.
For a unit that would house 20 plus 4 pigs, the cost is Rs. 8 lakh, for which a subsidy of Rs. 2 lakh could be availed. In case of the 3 plus 1 unit, the cost is Rs. 1 lakh, which includes shed, equipment, insurance and breeding stock. The subsidy for this unit would be Rs. 25,000.