VIJAYAWADA: With an objective to grow at 20 per cent rate annually, the Animal Husbandry department has chalked out a multi-pronged strategy in convergence with the Panchayat Raj department. Besides concentrating on improving the infrastructure to aide in safeguarding the animals, the department is also focusing on genetic improvement of the livestock.
The animal husbandry registered a growth rate of 15.3 per cent earlier this year, the officials said, and an action plan has been drafted for sustained development.
Genetic improvement of animals will yield the desired results, they added. “We are looking at improving the genetic profiles of the animals by taking up projects such as exclusive semen banks and In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) under public private partnership (PPP) mode. We have started developing one semen bank and another one is on cards,” an official explained.
For the record, the department has also appointed a technical committee to examine the requirement for establishment of a frozen semen bull station.
The official also explained that other measures including establishment of animal community shelters and encouraging the production of green fodder were underway to ensure a higher growth rate. The supply of hydroponics units to farmers, in convergence with MGNREGS, to provide a balanced ration to productive animals, is under consideration of the rural development department. Around 13,000 poultry and goat sheds are also on the anvil.
Out of the targeted 500 ‘gokulams’, 371 have been sanctioned across the 13 districts and works related to 239 are in progress. Of the sanctioned 18,000 ‘mini-gokulams’, works related to around 5,000 are underway. While a ‘gokulam’ can accommodate 20 animals, the ‘mini-gokulams’ can provide shelter to two-six animals.
The department is also promoting the growth of 60,000 acres of green fodder through Oorura Pasu Graasa Kshetralu (fodder growth centres). “We are taking up these initiatives in convergence with the funds from Panchayat Raj,” the official said.