6,437 beneficiaries identified to distribute sheep, ram in Hanamkonda

​Hanamkonda: About 6,437 beneficiaries from Yadava community have been identified in the district to distribute sheep and ram, informed District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil.

Twenty sheep and one ram would be counted as a unit and distributed to the identified beneficiaries, the Collector said. He held a meeting with animal husbandry department officials in Hanamkonda on Thursday to review the arrangements towards distribution of the livestock.

Jeevan Patil has directed the officials to identify and procure good breed of sheep to help the families, who depend on cattle rearing for a living. Transparency should be maintained in procuring the sheep and ram without approaching the middlemen.

The animal husbandry department officials have already visited Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh to study breeds of cattle suitable for local needs. The team of doctors, who were part of the tour, suggested Nellore brown breed sheep suitable for the weather conditions in the district.

The village sarpanch, secretary and VRO should encourage Yadava and Kurma communities to form societies to benefit from the scheme. So far 132 societies in 239 villages were formed. Steps should be made to set up more societies in the coming days, the Collector directed.

Jeevan Patil asked the officials to compile the details of Yadava, Golla and Kuruma community families, those who were depend on rearing cattle and those who were not yet taken up cattle rearing. A detailed report of population and proposed beneficiaries should be ready by February 20 by conducting field visits.

Efforts should be made to identify areas to grow stella grass on government and forest department lands to ensure grazing field for the sheep, he suggested. The district animal husbandry officer S Venkaiah Naidu and DFO K Purushotham were present.

Meat processing units to be set up in Bhupalpalli
Bhupalpalli: District Collector A Murali held a meeting with district officials and directed them make efforts to set up meat processing units in the district. He said 70 per cent area in the district has been covered with forests and it helps sheep rearing.

Instead of exporting the livestock outside the district measures to set up meat processing units should be made. It could ensure livelihood to nearly 50 per cent SC/ST population in the district, the Collector said.