Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday said about 10 lakh acre will be brought under cultivation this year through completion of various irrigation projects.
Launching the sheep rearing scheme at Kondapaka village in Siddipet district, the Chief Minister assured the village that he would ensure supply of Godavari River water after June next year. He suggested the land owners of Golla and Kuruma communities to take up not only shepherding but also farming using the government’s support to farming sector.
“It is shameful that despite the presence of 30 lakh population of Golla and Kuruma, Telangana State is importing nearly 650 lorries of sheep from various parts of the country including Rajasthan. We are confident that these communities will create an economy of Rs. 25,000 crore in the State within three years period. But we want them to follow the government guidelines and take care of their sheep distributed,” he said.
He suggested the Golla and Kuruma community associations to support the programme and ensure its success by working in tandem with the official machinery. A toll free number 1962 to call mobile veterinary clinic was also launched on the occasion which would come to the rescue of sick sheep within 30 minutes.
The Chief Minister launched the scheme and formally handed over the insurance papers to three beneficiaries. He wore the Gongadi and beat Oggudolu on the occasion. In all, 825 beneficiaries received the sheep in Gajwel alone.
The Chief Minister also announced a fund of Rs. 10 crore for the development of Kondapaka village following a request made by the village sarpanch for taking up different development works.
As many as 1,500 beneficiaries received sheep units in 30 districts of Telangana State on Tuesday. The sheep distribution was launched simultaneously by the Ministers, elected representatives and also district Collectors in all districts.
Rao said the State government has issued orders to allow sheep into the forest area for fodder. However, the goats are still not permitted to enter the forests. Around four tonnes of seeds for stylo hamata grass have been supplied to shepherds at a subsidy of 75 percent, to ensure that there is no fodder shortage for the sheep, he added.
TRS Parliamentary party leader K. Kesava Rao said that around 350 lorries of sheep are imported to Hyderabad from Rajasthan every day and stressed the need to transform into a sheep exporting State. “The State government has launched the sheep distribution scheme with an intention to grab this huge business opportunity and ensure that the local shepherds are benefited,” he said.
Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao said that due to Mission Kakatiya, the village tanks were brimming with water resulting in bountiful crops in the State. He stated that around 1.84 lakh tonnes of paddy worth Rs. 277 crore was procured through the paddy procurement centres in Telangana and Rs. 268 crore were already paid to the farmers.
Source: Telangana Today