Over 5 lakh cattle now in Marathwada fodder camps

AURANGABAD: The number of livestock taking refuge in fodder camps across Marathwada has crossed the five-lakh mark amid growing shortage of food and drinking water. These arrangements have been extending a helping hand to farmers from Beed, Osmanabad, Aurangabad and Jalna districts of Marathwada.
As per official data, of the total 1,066 sanctioned camps, a total of 707 camps are operational in the aforesaid four districts.Beed continues to lead with maximum 601 camps, followed by Osmanabad (86), Jalna (11) and Aurangabad (9).
The livestock taking shelter in camps include 4,61,289 adult animals and 40,555 calves. Deputy divisional commissioner (revenue) Vijaykumar Phad on Thursday said the district administrations from all eight districts have been told to ensure all possible help for smooth running of fodder camps.
"Despite the recent heavy workload related to elections, the district-level authorities were told to pay attention towards smooth operation of fodder camps. The farmer community affected due to drought will be extended all the help," he said.
Ashok Rasal, who is operating a fodder camp at Manjarsumba village in Beed district with 410 cattle, said increasing shortfall of green feed is being observed due to the poor Rabi season. Notably, a section of stakeholders has been reiterating the demand for suo-motu steps by the state for setting up fodder camps in the remaining four districts of Marathwada.
Farmer activist Jayaji Suryawanshi said all eight districts of Marathwada were hit by the water scarcity and it is surprising that fodder camps are being run in only four. Reacting to this, Phad said no official complaint has been received from any village where fodder camps have not been started.
Divisional authorities said all fodder camps are under scrutiny.