The district administration has added two more fodder depots in Vellore district at Natrampalli and Kalavai.
The depots have been opened in the veterinary dispensaries in the respective places, in addition to the five centres that have been functioning in Tirupattur, Gudiyatham, Ranipet, Vellore and Sholinghur last month to overcome the fodder shortage faced by the dairy farmers and animal breeders.
According to an official release, the depots have been opened to support the small and marginal dairy farmers who suffered economic loss on account of the dwindling milk yield and meat production, arising out of fodder shortage besides preventing distress sale of their cattle as a fallout.
The depots sell paddy straw and millet stalks at a subsidised rate of Rs 2 per kg per farmer. Already, fodder cards have been distributed to many farmers who have been availing themselves of the fodder at subsidised rates. And those who have not so far availed themselves of the cards have been requested to register themselves at the fodder depots.
The Animal Husbandry Department has also invited sealed tenders from fodder producers for procurement by the depots.