When the rains fail, it is the milch animals that come to the rescue of the small farmers.
Farmers that had livestock managed to make ends meet even when four consecutive monsoons failed in the State.
Knowing the importance of livestock, particularly milch animals, to the rural economy, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu proposed the establishment of ‘animal hostels’ for the “scientific management of milch animals to get optimum production, effective utilisation of farm waste for production of bio-gas, power generation and available family labour.” Yet another objective of animal hostels was the promotion of clean villages.
The per capita income from the animals will increase because the farm waste would also be commercialised. The quality of milk could also be vastly improved by utilising milking machines further increasing the income.
The Chief Minister is keen that five hostels be started on a pilot basis and that such hostels should be subsequently established in all 13 districts. Allocation to the tune of Rs 5 crore has already been made for the pilot projects in the recent budget.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) wrote a letter to the State government requesting that the first hostel be established at Gollalamanda village in A.Konduru Mandal, the village he selected for development under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana programme.
A minimum of one acre near the dwellings on a free of cost basis was basic requirement for establishing the hostel.
Other requirements for establishing a hostel are clean drinking water facility and farmers who are willing to cultivate fodder on commercial basis on MoU.
The Chief Minister is keen that five hostels be started on
a pilot basis
