ADILABAD: Survival of cattle in the erstwhile Adilabad district has turned precarious in view of the shortage of fodder and the absence of greenery for grazing due to the extreme temperatures this summer.
Most of the cattle, including sheep and goats, are confined indoors so as to avoid them getting affected by high temperatures.
Meanwhile, farmers are purchasing each bundle of fodder for Rs 15, which is on the higher side. Grass and leaves are all dry.
Earlier, the cattle used to go to nearby forests early in the morning and return home in the evening. But, now cattle owners don’t want to expose them to risks. Almost all the streams and rivulets have dried up in the forest areas.
Some of the farmers have cultivated green grass for their cattle but a majority of farmers cultivate maize or jowar in December. Farmers collect water in plastic drums and transport them on bullock carts from long distances for their own consumption and for their cattle.
