When we want to develop any industry or any production unit availability of raw material is the basic requirement. For cow-based rural economy cow dung and cow urine are best raw material to prepare useful products necessary for agriculture, human medicine and veterinary medicine. Milk, curd, butter milk, ghee are best known for several preparations right from sweets to medicines too.
There is big threat developed by multinational companies (MNC) through seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals for agriculture. Tractors and costly implements make agriculture unaffordable. There aggressive marketing network and lobbying in government hierarchy also give a jolt to the rural economy.
When we promote organic sustainable system these threats are reduced due to farmers developing their own inputs, no market purchases are required. It reduces the dependency of farmers. Even seeds are being prepared by farmers in several villages now-a-days.
Hence, village-based economy can very well be developed with sustainability through cow based products. It is a holistic and integrated approach to save environment (eco-friendly products) with no damage to natural cycle of life, avoiding hazards of percolation of toxic synthetic chemicals into food chain, etc.
(The writer is head of Gou Vigyan Kendra, Devlapar, Nagpur and can be contacted at gauseva@yahoo.co.in)
