State's livestock in demand among TN traders

Boost in sales makes ryots in the region happy

Cows, sheep and goats of Mandya, Chamrajanagar and Mysuru districts are in great demand, thanks to the hordes of traders from Tamil Nadu visiting these districts to purchase the livestock.

The traders, accompanied by veterinarians, visit the villages and purchase the animals with the help of local agents and transport them to their respective places.

The business has caught up not only in Karnataka, but also in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra.

The Tamil Nadu government is distributing a cow and four sheep or goats under ‘Amma’ project for women beneficiaries. Fifty beneficiaries are selected under each Grama Panchayat and Rs 40,000 is issued for each beneficiary, in an effort to improve their financial status.

Misuse of funds

The project was implemented in the year 2011-12, but, as the beneficiaries were misusing the funds by taking photos with the livestock owned by others, the government has issued an order that the livestock has to be purchased only from other states.

Team

A team of 25 persons, including veterinarians, visit Mandya, Chamrajanagar and Mysuru districts and approach the agents.

After the veterinarian examines the livestock and issues a health certificate, the animals are purchased and transported to Tamil Nadu.

If the total cost exceeds the government fund, it has to be borne by the beneficiaries themselves. As the team leaves the district, another team arrives and the business continues.

This has boosted the sales of livestock in the State and has come as a relief for the farmers, who have taken up dairy farming as an alternative profession.