ANANTAPUR: District Collector D. Kadmiel made a surprise inspection of the fodder camp being conducted at Penna Ahobilam temple on way to Uravakonda in the district on Friday. He interacted with the farmers who brought their cattle to the camp and enquired about the facilities there.

On being asked whether the fodder camp was useful, several farmers said it was a blessing in disguise for their cattle starving for fodder due to scarcity. One Venkateshulu of Raketla urged the Collector to supply additional fodder to the cattle camping at the fodder camps in the night too.

However, the Collector explained that there was a limit to every facility being extended by the Government and it was the same in the case of fodder camp too. The Government was already running three fodder camps at Penna Ahobilam, Penukonda and Madakasira for supply of five kg of fodder to each cattle attending the camp every day for 45 days. The Government had allocated Rs. 4 crore for the purpose.

Apart from 5 kg of fodder, each animal would also be supplied one kg of mineral mixture, water and medicines, if necessary, free of cost the Collector said. Arrangements were being made to open another fodder camp at Mittapalli in Obuladevara Cheruvu mandal soon, he stated.

About 116 tonnes of fodder was transported to Penna Ahobilam camp already and 4,833 cattle of 232 farmers of surrounding villages were already supplied 22 tonnes of fodder. Fodder was being purchased from Bellary area as there was scarcity in the district, the Collector said.

Subsidised

The Collector explained to the farmers that subsidised seed groundnut would be supplied to them from the second week of June from 63 sales counters.

They were also likely to get the benefit of crop insurance and input subsidy soon, he assured them. On the suggestion of farmers that fodder was getting wet due to showers and it would be safe if stacked, the Collector directed the officials to take up stacking of fodder immediately.

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