Thiruvananthapuram: The
animal husbandry department (AHD) has pegged the initial estimate of loss in the sector due to floods at Rs 51 crore. The officials with AHD said that the actual loss could go up as more figures arrive from various flood-affected districts.
It is estimated that nearly 50% of the
cattle in
flood-affected areas in
Thrissur,
Chengannur and Alleppey would have died and the department is recording similar loss in case of poultry and goat. Each district has a cattle population between 75,000 -1 lakh, as per AHD estimates. Deaths of cattle and poultry have also been reported from Idukki and Wayanad, where many landslides had occurred.
“In many flood-affected areas, it was impossible for anyone to take the animals with them. Either they let them loose or left them in houses or farms. Those animals which were let off might not have reached high grounds, as the extent of flooding was huge. Poultry has also been washed out in low lying areas as many people were left them locked in enclosures,” said an official with AHD.
Out of the 14 lakh cattle in the state, only around 2 lakh have been insured. The department sets a target of 60,000 cattle every year and only milk yielding cows are included under insurance coverage. “So, although a farmer would have lost calves, goats and poultry, the insurance will apply only to milch cows. The insurance amount starts from Rs 50,000 for a cow and up to this amount, the government has subsidized the premium,” officials said,
The department is now relying on unique identification process for cows and geo-mapping which was successfully carried out earlier to avoid possible disputes among farmers over ownership of cows. The cows which are ear-tagged have a unique identification number which will help the department track all its details including ownership.
The scientific burial of animal carcasses is also being done after removing the ear-tag for future claims for compensation. Pictures of carcasses are also being taken in cases where the cows were not ear-tagged as part of UID process.
A team comprising the secretary of local body, livestock inspector, a veterinary doctor and health inspector of the local body has started monitoring the burial of carcasses in different areas. In Paravur and Alangadu, where so many cattle deaths have been reported, pits that are six feet deep are being dug at a minimum of six metres away from water bodies, as per the instructions issued by Suchitwa Mission. In places like Alleppey which continue to remain waterlogged, burial as per the instructions had posed challenges, officials said.
AHD is also dealing with a severe shortage of fodder and has appealed to states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh for fodder. The state is also expecting cattle feed packets from National Dairy Development Board.
The dairy development department has also started cattle camps in a few flood-affected areas in Chengannur and Alappuzha.
