Goshalas get a shot in the arm

Requirements of long-neglected goshalas in the district will soon be met as officials gear up to extend all help. The Department has prepared proposals for fodder production on one hectare each for five goshalas in the private sector and one in a government-run cow shelter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be walking the talk. Soon after coming to power, Mr. Modi had instructed the officials concerned to extend all help to goshalas. And as part of that, fodder seeds and chaff cutters would be supplied to goshalas across the country by concerned authorities. They have also been asked to take up vaccination programme at regular intervals.

“Clear instructions are issued in this regard and we are asked to extend services to the goshalas. We will look into the specifics of the needs of cow shelters and try to meet its demands instead of making just casual visits. Rice bran has also been procured,” said a senior official in the Animal Husbandry Department. He said that this was in tune with the practice followed in Gujarat when Mr. Modi was Chief Minister.

The Department has prepared proposals for fodder production on one hectare each for five goshalas in the private sector and one in a government-run cow shelter. The cost of producing fodder in each hectare is estimated to be about Rs. 65,000, of which the Centre’s share is 75 per cent and the State 25 per cent. According to the proposal, Rs. 2.43 lakh would be sanctioned by the Centre and Rs. 81,000 by the State government.

The programme would be implemented under the National Livestock Mission (NLM) – a scheme aimed at entrepreneurship development and employment generation in livestock sector.

There are six goshalas – Zaheerabad (40 cows), Nandigama (290) and Bontapally (150) – which are registered and recognised, in addition to Beeramguda (300), Kulcharam (30) and Vaikunthapuram (20) running in the district. Currently, the services are reaching only the registered shelters.

“We are unable to receive required services. We immediately need sheds and fodder to look after 290 cows. For now, we are getting grass from outside,” said Kishan Rao, who is running a cow shelter at Nandigama.

“Improving the condition of Goshalas and meeting their requirements is our priority and the Union Government is willing to cooperate with us as it wants to save local breed of cows,” said V. Lakshma Reddy, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry.