Like family doctor, AP CM wants cattle doctor system

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has come up with an innovative cattle doctor system at all veterinary hospitals in the 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh.

“These vets should work along the lines of family doctors for good health of cattle, so that quality milk in additional quantities could be produced in AP,” he observed while reviewing with officials functioning of the animal husbandry department at CM’s Camp Office in Tadepalli on Tuesday.

The CM wanted cattle doctors to examine cattle regularly and update the health cards annually. This will help farmers provide their animals proper feed and medicines. He asked officials to draft a concept document on the cattle doctor system, which could be placed in the next cabinet meeting.

Jagan Mohan Reddy advised that milk produced within AP to be organic, with grass and other products fed to cattle being procured from organic sources. He felt milk and eggs being given to children for nutrition should not have any chemical residues in them, as they may affect their health.

The Chief Minister said posts of assistants in animal husbandry department be filled and RBKs given such assistants. Their jobs, among other tasks, must be to verify whether or not all cattle, purchased under YSR Cheyutha and Asara within their respective areas, have insurance cover. He said steps should be taken to implement the insurance scheme in toto. This will ensure that no farmer is affected in case their livestock die due to disease or accident. He assured that government will bear 80 percent of this insurance premium.

The CM asked officials to constantly review the working of YSR mobile veterinary clinics. In this regard, officials informed him that more ambulances will be attached to veterinary clinics in October. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the focus of officials must be on strengthening of rural economy by showing farmers and villagers alternative sources of income through animal husbandry, along with agriculture.

The Chief Minister told officials to help beneficiaries of Asara and Cheyutha in getting loans from banks. Further, all implements and equipment meant for animal husbandry must be available at RBKs. Preventive measures should be taken to check the spread of lumpy virus. Adequate medicines and vaccines should be kept ready for dealing with the disease.

Animal husbandry minister S. Appalaraju, Agricultural Mission vice chairman M.V.S. Nagi Reddy, special chief secretary (Animal Husbandry) Poonam Malkondaiah, chief secretary (Finance) Chiranjivi Choudhary and animal husbandry director R. Amarender Kumar were among those present at the meeting.