Take sheep protection initiatives in summer, officials told

Gadwal: District Collector Raja Kumar Saini directed the officials of veterinary and animal husbandry, horticulture and agriculture departments to prepare a comprehensive plan for growing perennial grass and providing water facility, as part of the government’s imitative to protect the sheep distributed to Golla and Kuruva communities in the district. Earlier, the Collector participated in the video conference with Fisheries and Anima Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, held from Hyderabad on Wednesday.

With summer approaching, Talasani directed the Collector to prepare a draft plan to ensure that all necessary initiatives are in place to protect the sheep units during the summer season. Collector Rajat Kumar explained to the Minister that so far 9,000 units of subsidised sheep were distributed to beneficiaries of Golla and Kuruva communities in the district.

As part of the plan to ensure enough grass available for rearing the sheep in the district, the officials have already planned to grow perennial grass for feeding animals in 240 acres and about 480 acres of jowar grass is being planned to suffice the needs of summer requirement for the animals in the district.

Minister Talasani asked the district officials to regularly monitor the conditions prevailing in rural areas and ensure all the sheep are vaccinated and ensure that necessary medical care will be provided to the animals through the 1962 mobile veterinary vehicles across the State.

Stressing on the steps taken to improve the fisheries sector in Gadwal, the Collector said this season 97 lakh fishlings were released in various ponds, lakes and reservoirs in the district and it gave good returns for the fisherman.