Ensure adequate fodder for cattle, officials told

Minister Venkatesh directs officials to ensure no fodder scarcity in Mysuru. Ban on transportation of fodder to other states till normalcy returns. Fodder stock sufficient for 24 weeks. Vacancies in department to be filled phase-wise. ₹7.10 crore grant for 2023-24, ₹4.13 crore spent on equipment, medicines. Lumpy skin disease vaccination drive for 5.71 million cattle, 5.31 million covered. FMD vaccination for 26.3 million cattle, 23.2 million covered. Rabies vaccination for 407,372 cattle, 99,075 covered.

The Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Venkatesh directed the officials of the department to ensure that there was no scarcity of fodder anywhere in the district.

He was speaking at a review meeting of the works of the Department of Animal Husbandry across Mysuru revenue division here on Friday. The Minister said in view of the severity of the drought fodder should be adequately stocked and distributed so that there was no scarcity.

Mr. Venkatesh said there was already a ban on the transportation of fodder to other States till the return of normalcy. Besides, steps have been taken to distribute fodder seeds across the State, he added.

With regard to fodder availability, the Minister was informed that there was adequate stock to last for 24 weeks and the department had distributed 2.76 lakh packets of fodder seeds to farmers in the division.

The Minister also referred to the existing vacancies in the department and said that they will be filled up by the government phase-wise. The process to fill up the vacancies and recruit personnel has already commenced.

The Minister apprised himself of the various projects and works taken up by the department and was informed by the officials that the department has received ₹7.10 crore as grant for the year 2023-24 of which ₹4.13 crore has already been spent on procuring equipment, medicines, chemicals, etc. The department has also launched a drive to vaccinate the cattle against lumpy skin disease and against the target of inoculating 5,71,221 cattle the department has covered 5,31,169 so far. Across Mysuru revenue division comprising eight districts, more than 2.2 million cattle were being covered. Meanwhile, 3291 cattle have died due to lumpy skin disease in the division, said the officials.

The Minister was also apprised of the progress of vaccinating the animals for foot and mouth disease and the department had covered 23,20,70 cattle against the target of innoculating 26,30,101 cattle.