Hike funds for Marathwada cattle: Mantri

Mumbai: Maharashtra’s minister of state for agriculture, Sadabhau Khot on Wednesday demanded that money should be increased for individual cattle in Marathwada as fodder is being brought from remote places to the region, which had resulted in an increase in expenses.

The government is currently providing Rs 100 for big cattle on an individual basis.

Mr Khot also said that water should be supplied via tankers to fodder camps, as livestock have not been provided water. He had visited Aurangabad, Sangli and Satara district. Farmers had told Mr Khot that livestock have not been provided water and he then took up the matter with the relief and rehabilitation minister.

Speaking with reporters at Mantralaya, Mr Khot said that fodder had to be brought from Nashik, Ahmednagar and Amaravati districts as the Marathwada does not have any. He said that at least Rs 120 should be given to cattle on an individual basis for fodder in Marathwada.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar had also said that the money that is provided to cattle for fodder is not enough.

It should be increased to Rs 119 for individual cattle across drought-affected areas, he had said.

The government used to allot Rs 90 and Rs 40 to individual big and small cattle respectively. But on May 15, the state declared that it would provide them Rs 100 and Rs 50 respectively.