Rajahmundry, July 8: In a major shift, upland farmers find it more remunerative to rear a special breed of cows which gives more milk instead of farming in East Godavari. Farmers from upland areas always find it difficult to raise crops as their sources of irrigation are mainly borewells and rainfall. With the launch of the Pasu Kranti scheme by the Congress government, farmers are showing more interest in rearing a special breed cow, the Holstein, whose milk yield ranges between 16 to 25 litres per day. Expenditure on the maintenance of this cow is said to be relatively low when compared to buffaloes in terms of fodder and upkeep. Though its milk is relatively less on fat content and gets nearly Rs 20 per litre, higher milk yield is luring farmers to opt for this cow. Animal husbandry authorities have targeted to give 2,500 buffaloes and 500 Holstein cows under the Pasu Kranti scheme in East Godavari for 2008-09. They are making arrangements for bringing these cows from Chennai and Coimbatore while buffaloes are brought from Haryana. Milk yield for buffalo is around 12 litres per day and each litre fetches nearly Rs 26. For 2007-08, the authorities gave 1,068 buffaloes to beneficiaries under the scheme and out of the 2,500 buffaloes, 1,068 will be given as a second animal to the previous beneficiaries. Each unit under the scheme includes two animals. Bankers, however, are finding it difficult to extend loans to farmers under the scheme as they are not confident of prompt repayment from some of them. East Godavari animal husbandry joint director T. Reddy Rao said, "A select group of farmers, accompanied by officials, will purchase animals and bring them here and through a draw of lot, these will be given away to beneficiaries in the presence of elected representatives. In West Godavari district, 2,500 buffaloes are targeted to be given away under the Pasu Kranti scheme for 2008-09. Out of the target of 4,000 buffaloes fixed for 2007-08, 1,627 were given away last year."