The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : No ban on breeding of sheep, goats, says Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

No ban on breeding of sheep, goats, says Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM, SEPT. 12. The Minister for Animal Husbandry, Gollapalli Surya Rao, on Sunday said the Congress Government would encourage the farmers and rural folk in taking up sheep and goat breeding.

Asked to comment on the "ban'' imposed by the erstwhile Telugu Desam Government, he told reporters that no formal orders had been issued prohibiting rearing of sheep and goats. Hence, the question of withdrawing the ban did not arise, he stated.

Misplaced notion

Mr. Surya Rao disputed the contention of the former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, that increase in the population of sheep and goats would be a threat to the environment. It was wrong to think that they would eat away the green cover, he remarked.

The Minister said that by taking up breeding of sheep, goats and cattle, the poor could raise their income levels. In fact, in rural areas, apart from cultivation and agricultural labour, goats, sheep, cows and buffaloes ensure a regular flow of income to most people.

Mr. Surya Rao said that to overcome shortage of fodder for livestock, the Government had decided to give incentives to the people to grow fodder wherever there was a good spell of rain. "Our officials will rush with seeds for fodder to such areas in our office jeeps and other vehicles,'' he said.

Buffer stock

Disclosing that they would give 75 per cent subsidy on seeds, the Minister said that creation of a buffer stock of fodder in areas experiencing good rain would help take care of the requirement during dry spells.

Denying a report that the Animal Husbandry Department was disputing with the medical and health officials on the incidence of anthrax cases in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam district, he said he is yet to get a report from the Joint Director of Animal Husbandry.

Accusing Mr. Chandrababu Naidu of failure to stomach defeat in the elections, he said that he was also jealous of the growing popularity of the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, over grounding of several irrigation projects and introduction of free power to farmers.

Mr. Surya Rao said Mr. Naidu had no right to demand the arrest of Dr. Reddy under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for the killing of Telugu Desam leaders and activists in Anantapur district. He alleged that the TDP was trying to blow the faction killings out of proportion by accusing the Congress Government of engineering them.

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