The torrential rain that wreaked havoc across the State last month caused a loss of ₹172.08 crore to the animal husbandry sector alone, with thousands of livestock and poultry perishing in the floodwaters, preliminary estimates reveal.
A rapid assessment by the Animal Husbandry Department said the floods had claimed the lives of 5,163 milch cows, 1,089 heifers, 5,166 calves, 527 buffaloes, 6,054 goats, 1,025 pigs, 8,72,536 chicken, 4,42,746 ducks, 20,000 quail, 21 rabbits and 347 dogs.
The report submitted to the government said many were forced to abandon their animals and birds. Officials from the department had joined hands with volunteer groups, farmers and cooperative societies to rescue the stranded animals, shift them to shelters and provide them food and medical care. Camps were organised for cows in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanmthitta districts. The financial loss caused by the death of livestock and poultry is estimated to be ₹77.94 crore. An added loss of ₹63.54 crore was caused by the damage to infrastructure such as cattle and poultry sheds and assets such as cattle feed, fodder, dried grass and hay.
Dairy cooperatives incurred a loss of ₹3.7 crore due to damages, while the loss due to the drop in milk production is estimated to be ₹3.9 crore. Veterinary institutions in flood-hit areas also suffered a loss of ₹23 crore. The department has prepared a compensation package of ₹195.845 crore to be submitted to the Centre for relief assistance. This includes funds for the purchase of cattle and poultry, repair or reconstruction of damaged shelters and compensation for fodder and poultry feed and reconstruction of other damaged infrastructure.
Final compensation
According to the office of the Minister for Animal Husbandry, the final compensation package would be prepared after revising the estimate. Officials said an immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction package had been worked out to restore the livelihood of dairy and poultry farmers who had suffered heavy loss in the floods. Besides 1,200 single cow units and 900 two-cow units, the farmers would be given assistance for rebuilding cattle sheds and compensation for livestock and damaged cattle feed.
