State finalises 4 ‘varieties’ of sheep
The Telangana State government has zeroed in on four sheep varieties to distribute to Yadav/Kuruma families in the state from June. The government has decided to purchase 2 lakh units of sheep, each unit comprising 20 females and a male, at a cost of `2,500 crore.
The varieties identified are Nellore brown, Jodipi, Deccani and Madras red sheep from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Officials have been sent to these states to buy the sheep.
The government has decided to distribute 80 lakh sheep in two years at a cost of `5,000 crore as part of its policy to encourage caste-based professions to revive the rural economy.
In the first phase, 2 lakh units, amounting to 40 lakh sheep, will be distributed from June 2, on the occasion of the third Telangana state formation day. Each unit will cost `1.25 lakh. Of this, the government will bear subsidy of `93,750 while the beneficiary needs to contribute `31,250.
A three-member committee comprising MRO, MDO and a veterinary doctor was set up to identify beneficiaries. About 4 lakh shepherd families were identified in the state; half of them will be provided sheep this year while the rest will get them next year.
Talasani Srinivas Yadav, the minister for animal husbandry, said: “Officials were directed to conduct a special drive to enrol eligible members in the society from May 1 to 10. The beneficiaries will be selected through draw of lots from May 10 to 20 during village meetings.”
The officials were also told to identify land for cultivation of grass in the forest and barren lands to feed 40 lakh sheep.
The sheep bought from Maharashtra will be distributed in Asifabad district (1,583 units), Adilabad (1,783), Nirmal (3,361), Mancherial (4,190) and Kamareddy (4,662).
From Karnataka, sheep will be purchased for distribution in Medchal district (2,599 units), Wanaparthy (7,735), Sangareddy (8,312), Gadwal (8,733), Rangareddy (10,053), Nagarkurnool (10,331) and Mahbubnagar (15,678).
Sheep purchased from Andhra Pradesh will be distributed in Warangal urban district (2,224 units), Nizamabad (4,516), Kothagudem (4,570), Siricilla (4,791), Mahabubabad (5,278), Karimnagar (5,478), Bhoopalapally (5,504), Warangal rural (6,437), Janagoan (6,558), Jagtial (6,773), Yadadri (7,723), Khammam (8,279), Siddipet (8,351), Suryapet (9,623) and Nalgonda (15,977).
From Tamil Nadu, sheep will be purchased and distributed in Peddapally district (7,258 units). For Vikarabad district, 6,512 units will be bought from Karnataka and Maharashtra while another 5,108 units will be purchased from Karnataka and AP for distribution in Medak.