Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Prof R. Palaniswamy has said the government has sanctioned Rs.13.68 lakh for raising five lakh ‘Agathi’ seedlings to be distributed to farmers in five southern districts in the State.
The Director, who inspected the Chettinad Livestock Farm along with Collector V. Rajaraman on Saturday, said the Agathi seedlings, raised under the State Fodder Development Scheme, would be distributed free of cost to farmers, and those having livestock holdings would be given priority.
One lakh farmers each in Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Theni and Dindigul districts would be given the seedlings, an official release said.
Official sources at the Chettinad farm said four lakh seedlings had already been raised and one lakh seedlings were being raised.
The distribution of seedlings to the farmers would begin on September 25 and completed by October-end, they said.
Agathi could be given as feed to both cows and goats to increase milk productivity and increase the immunity of the animals, the sources said.
The Director inspected the animal sheds, poultry and dairy units and the piggery unit set up recently under the National Mission for Protein Supplement and reviewed the progress of schemes implemented by the Animal Husbandry Department, the officials said.
