Gujarat Govt announces new measures for water scarcity hit farmers in the state

Gandhinagar, November 22: Gujarat Government has announced new measures for water scarcity hit farmers in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has said that 19,920 cu-secs of water is being released in Narmada canals since 12th November from Sardar Sarovar Dam for the farmers who plan to sow Rabi crops.

 

According to the official release, the state government will provide an additional 7 crore kilograms of fodder in scarcity-hit areas. A team led by MoS for Backward Class Welfare Vasan Ahir will visit Punjab to examine the possibility of importing wheat crop stubble to be used as cattle fodder.

According to the government, 51 talukas, spread across 11 districts, that have been declared ‘scarcity-hit’ are facing fodder shortage of nearly two crore kg. Last week, the government had approached sugarcane farmers to source their waste as fodder for livestock in the scarcity-hit areas. The sugarcane waste is usually given to labourers who sell it to livestock owners for extra money.

“For the scarcity-hit areas, arrangements are being made for 7 crore kg fodder. So far, arrangement has been made for 5 crore kg fodders,” Revenue Minister Kaushik Patel said after attending the special Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

The government also announced to give electricity connections on a priority basis to farmers in regions with sufficient water, if they are ready to grow fodder on their land. According to sources, the state has an estimated population of 2.3 crore cows and buffaloes, and 49 lakh goats.