Kottarakara block panchayat backs livestock farmers, homemakers through multiple initiatives

The Kottarakara block panchayat has been implementing diverse projects in the animal husbandry sector, creating avenues for increased income. The presence of dairy farmers in the panchayat has encouraged the local body to provide self-employment opportunities for housewives, modernise livestock sheds, and ensure milk subsidies. Through the Grihasamridhi-Veettammakkoru Kaithangu project, dairy cows, female goats, and egg-laying hens are provided at a subsidised rates. A subsidy of ₹30,000 is provided for a dairy cow priced at ₹60,000 and for a female goat priced at ₹9,000, the subsidy is ₹4,500. The subsidy offered for 10 egg-laying hens is ₹500. Beneficiaries are given the option to repay the remaining amount in instalments at banks. Selected homemakers from various panchayats are the beneficiaries. The block panchayat has allocated ₹28 lakh for this project, which has helped 27 homemakers become self-sufficient and improve their living standards over the past two financial years.

The mini-dairy farm project focusses on modernising livestock sheds. A 50% subsidy is provided for the cost of setting up necessary facilities in the shed, either fully or partially, including milking machines, rubber mats, hand showers, 40-litre capacity milk containers, and hand trucks. While modernising the sheds helps prevent fatal diseases and reduces the workload for dairy farmers, it also helps them to generate more profit by producing fertilizer from manure.

The block panchayat is also successfully implementing milk subsidies. Farmers who supply milk to dairy cooperatives in Veliyam, Kareepra, Pooyappally, Neduvathoor, and Ezhukone panchayats receive financial assistance of ₹4,000 at a rate of ₹3 per litre of milk supplied.

“Efforts are being made to increase profit through animal welfare projects and make the dairy sector more efficient,” said block panchayat president A. Abhilash. The local body has also implemented the Veyilraksha project that aims at protecting livestock during summer and maintain good milk production. The project helps mitigate the financial losses suffered by farmers due to livestock deaths and significant reductions in milk production during severe heat. A technical committee consisting of veterinary surgeons/senior veterinary surgeons and the implementing officer are part of the team that offers support to the farmers under the project.