District administration to set up more fodder banks, concrete tanks

The district administration is planning to set up over 16 fodder banks across the district besides constructing concrete tanks to provide water to livestock.

Shivashankar, Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat, told The Hindu that he had learned from veterinary officials that the existing quantity of fodder may only last for a few more weeks. He said he had been touring all the seven drought-hit taluks, along with the Deputy Commissioner and other officials, to take stock of the situation.

A number of of concrete tanks have already been built and filled with water for the animals, Mr. Shivashankar said and noted that the tanks were being built under the MNREGS. The CEO also hinted at the setting up of goshalas if he received reports of farmers resorting to distress sale of cattle for want of fodder and water.

Meanwhile, Mallikarjunaswamy, field officer of Mysore Milk Union Ltd (MYMUL), told

The Hindu that one cow needs a minimum of 20 kg of green fodder and five kg of dry fodder besides a minimum of 30 litres of water per day. He said that it may prove difficult for small and marginal farmers to provide so much fodder owing to drought.

Earlier, big farmers from Hassan, Ajjampura and Chikkamagaluru used to travel to Mysuru to buy cows and bullock. However, owing to the drought, they were also not seen making such purchases this time.