Post by Sprouts on Mar 4, 2013 15:14:57 GMT -5
Government to open 90 fodder camps
Nikhil Deshmukh, TNN Feb 23, 2013, 04.00PM IST
PUNE: The state government has decided to open 90 fodder camps in Marathwada region, the worst drought hit area in the state. The water storage in dams and other water bodies in seven districts of Marathwada are close to 15% and it is shrinking drastically. The limited water put constrains on the state government's proposed plan of starting fodder development programmes as most of the water is now reserved for drinking purposes, said a senior officer from state relief and rehabilitation department.
There are only 30 fodder camps in Beed, Osmanabad and Jalna districts by the state government. Another 90 fodder camps will provide relief to the districts such as Latur, Aurangabad, Parbhani and Nanded. The year 2011 and 2012 recorded insufficient rain in Marathwada region, which resulted into drying of water resources.
Jowar is the main crop cultivated in this region, which provides grains to people and fodder for cattle. The inadequate rain first discouraged the farmers from sowing jowar and also reduced the moisture in the soil that led to fall in the yield. The fodder availability in this region reduced and farmers were forced to send their cattle to fodder camps, said the officer.
The officer said, "The state government has appealed to many cooperative societies, credit societies and banks to open fodder camps in the rural areas."
The state government's marketing department will open these fodder camps in Marathwada in coming days, said the officer.
articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-23/pune/37257140_1_fodder-marathwada-water-resources