The Hindu : Drought may hit cattle too

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Drought may hit cattle too

By G. Srinivasan

Thanjavur Aug. 9. Water scarcity has not only affected farmers of the delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, but also threaten to affect the cattle population, as there could be an acute shortage of paddy straw in the coming months.

Paddy straw is the main fodder for cattle in these districts. It is also available from kuruvai paddy harvested in pumpset areas, but it will not be sufficient for the cattle population in the three districts.

If samba is not taken up, farmers would find it extremely difficult to feed cattle, as paddy straw from the crop is a better fodder than the straw from kuruvai and thaladi varieties.

Paddy varieties grown in delta districts have long straws and supplied to the entire State.

Moreover, the price of haystack has gone up.

A bundle, which cost Rs. 20-30, is now selling at Rs. 60- 80. Besides, the quality is not good as last year's samba crop, which was damaged in February floods.

Paddy straw is also used as bed for raising mushrooms. But the use is marginal as mushroom cultivation is yet to catch up. It is also used for producing paper.

In Thanjavur, 5,07,427 cows and 1,61,463 buffaloes survive on paddy straw.

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