Virudhunagar gets Rs. 1.64 cr. for hay supply to farmers

A sum of Rs. 1.64 crore has been allocated for providing hay to farmers at a subsidised rate of Rs. 2 a kg in all the nine taluks of the district to help them manage fodder shortage due to drought. Each taluk has been given Rs. 18.27 lakh.

Inaugurating the dry fodder sale depot at Srivilliputtur on Thursday, Minister for Dairy Development K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji said every farmer would get 105 kg of hay for a week at subsidised rate.

A farmer would be given hay at subsidised rate for only five cattle heads, and each cattle would be given three kg of hay a day. The farmers, who wanted to make use of the opportunity, should register their names with the nearest veterinary dispensaries.

Dry fodder sale depots would be opened in the ther taluks – Rajapalayam, Sivakasi, Vembakottai, Sattur, Virudhunagar, Kariyapatti, Aruppukottai and Tiruchuli – soon, he said. Hay for these centres would be procured through tender process by a team of officials, headed by the Collector.

Regional Joint Director (Animal Husbandry) R. Sukumar said hay would otherwise cost around Rs. 5 to Rs. 6 a kg. The contractors would have to buy hay from different parts and transport them to the depots.

“We hope to continue the supply for at least three months and expect the situation to improve by then. The money collected from the farmers towards hay purchase would be used as a revolving fund to further prolong the scheme,” he added.

Dr. Sukumar said Virudhunagar had got around 2.5 lakh cattle heads.

Virudhunagar MP T. Radhakrishnan, MLAs S.G. Subramanian and M. Chandraprabha were present.