Lockdown triggers shortage of feed to domestic animals in villages

DHARAMSHALA: Lockdown to maintain social distancing has put poultry industry and domestic animals, particularly in villages, in crisis as they are unable to get feed for them. Government is using online platforms to provide information for procurement of feed but many village level farmers are not aware of it.
Evidently, the shortage of feed has forced a former Congress minister, Sudhir Sharma, to stock the cattle feed at his posh bungalow at Khaniyara village near here to supply it in villages.
“Many females contacted me in recent days. They are not aware of social media platforms where information of this is being provided. I have stocked feed at my home also and now ensuring supplies to various parts of the state including Bilaspur, Shahpur and in Kangra district” said Sudhir adding that 11 trucks have been supplied to various villages in last two-three days.
Problem is being faced by the people living in village areas as trucks with this feed are not allowed without passes and most of this stock comes from nearby state Punjab.
Poultry industry is also facing crisis.
Pawan Choudhary, a villager from Ghurkari, who had recently purchased chickens of nearly 3 lakh rupees after getting a bank loan is now running short of feed.
“Passes being issued by the government needs description of place to place. But we get feed (maize) from various places after visiting number of farmers, it is not possible in this type of pass system” he added.
Deputy Commissioner at Kangra, Rakesh Kumar Parajapati, had prepared a list of people that can be contacted for cattle feed. It is being shared on various online platforms but still there are many village areas which are running short of this feed.
Meanwhile, a BJP MLA from Nurpur area Rakesh Pathania, is also playing an active role in feeding needy people. He has also created stock at his home for essential commodities. The numbers have been distributed to people to contact his office for these items.