The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Plan in place to tackle fodder shortage: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Plan in place to tackle fodder shortage: Minister

By Our Correspondent

KAKINADA, DEC. 20. The Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Gollapalli Suryarao, has said that the Government has initiated a plan of action to tide over the fodder shortage in view of the unfavourable seasonal conditions prevailing in most parts of the State.

Speaking at a function after inaugurating the Rs.1.25-lakh protected water supply scheme in Thatiparti village, near here, on Monday, he said that under the plan 18 lakh tonnes of fodder seed would be supplied to the ryots and already 16 lakh tonnes of seed was distributed.

Milk production

Stating that the adverse seasonal conditions had led to the spread of diseases among cattle, Mr Suryarao said that every effort was being made to immunise the cattle by vaccination.

As part of the scheme to increase milk production by producing a good breed of milch cattle, he said artificial insemination was done on 40 lakh cattle of which three lakh proved fruitful.

While conceding that about 500 veterinary assistants posts were lying vacant, he said they were able to fill 138 posts and the balance would be filled by next March.

The Minister said that there was a dearth of veterinary graduates and efforts were being made to recruit a fresh batch of graduates in April.

Units for poor

Referring to the Indira Prabha scheme, he said the lands given to the poor were not put to proper use as such under the comprehensive land development scheme all those lands would be developed all round under the Rs.500-crore Nabard assistance.

Mr Suryarao said that all the eligible among the poor and weaker sections would be sanctioned the units under the Rajiv Yuva Shakti programme and the selection made purely on the basis of poverty and unemployment.

The Minister earlier performed special poojas at the famous Aparna Devi temple. The Pithapuram Municipal Chairperson, Sriramachandramurthy, MLA, Pendem Dorababu, and MPTC, Satyavati, accompanied the Minister.

Later, Mr Suryarao inaugurated the Christmas `Subha Yathra' under the auspices of the Christian youth fellowship at the APSP campus here.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh