Drought prevention measures reviewed

Ranga Reddy: Collector Lokesh Kumar on Friday conducted a review of schemes for sheep-rearing and distribution of cattle, besides drought prevention measures undertaken by the managing director of corporation concerned, Dr V Lakshma Reddy. Kumar directed officials of horticulture and forest departments to create more awareness among farmers, as part of the drought prevention measures, and to take up Stylo Grass seeding as internal crops in horticulture gardens. He asked the District Forest Officer to increase distribution of fodder seedlings, like Subabul, and their plantations through nurseries as part of the Haritha Haram programme to be taken up from June next.

The Collector asked the Animal Husbandry department in the district, besides MD of TSSGDCFL, to submit proposals on distribution of more fodder seeds and grass-cutting machines to beneficiaries of the sheep scheme. He directed officials to constitute committees at district level to look into sheep distribution taken up so far and inspect the animals after specifying the dates to the beneficiaries. He directed them to submit proposals on the recovery of subsidy amounts from the beneficiaries who had their sheep units inspected by the district committee.

The District Forest Officer while throwing light on Stylo Grass seed distribution pointed out that there was more yield this year than that of the previous year. He said the department would not object if farmers wanted to raise fodder as crop for grazing their cattle. Dr Reddy while praising implementation of the scheme in the district wanted distribution of sheep for the first phase beneficiaries to be completed by December this year. The District Animal Husbandry Officer informed that so far 3,182 cattle have been given vide payments through DDs. The DC asked the DAHO to first distribute on priority buffaloes and later cows to those farmers who have submitted the remaining DDs. Among those present were Joint Collector, DFO and officials of various departments.