A Spokesperson of the Animal Husbandry department said here today that the seasonal migration of sheep breeders is going on smoothly in district Chamba and the department has set up five transit camps at Thulel, Khargat, Lahru, Berangal and Koti for providing veterinary aid and other logistics and so far 280 flocks that have entered the Chamba district have been covered.He said that the migration of Gujjar community along with their livestock into Chamba has not started till date. In the present lockdown situation, veterinary institutions are providing regular veterinary services and the veterinary dispensaries are providing emergency services on call basis. He said that from 16 April, 2020 onwards the veterinary dispensaries will also be opened and sufficient stock of veterinary medicines and vaccines is available with the department.The spokesperson said that the nomads in the state have been given priority as per the directions of the Chief Minister and free movement of livestock has been allowed. The state government has already directed to provide all logistic help besides rations etc. to the migratory sheep and animal breeders like Gaddis and Gujjars etc of the state.He said that till now 500 migrant livestock owners have been contacted who are under migration and about 150 ration kits have been provided to the needy persons through local administrations in the district of Sirmour, Solan, Shimla, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur, Mandi and Kangra.
He said that there are certain issues regarding sale of surplus livestock which the migrant flock owners have reported which is likely to be normalised once the retail need shops will be opened.The Spokesperson said that H.P. Milk Federation and Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch, Namhol in district Bilaspur are processing milk regularly. Daily procurement of milk by the federation has increased to 80,000 litres per day from the earlier procurement of approximately 65,000 litres per day. He said that the permits are being issued for transporting fodder from the neighbouring districts and since start of lockdown period approximately 35,000 quintal dry fodder has been received in the state.As far as marketing of milk of Gujjar community is concerned, 28 Gram Panchayats in Chamba district where Gujjars are based are currently Coronavirus hotspots and therefore the sale of milk is affected. The people in these areas have been advised to prepare products like ghee, cheese etc. from surplus milk. He further added that the department has not received any report of problems being faced by Gaddi and Gujjars from other districts of the state.The Spokesperson said that in Kangra district, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry has been made nodal officer for facilitation of intrastate and interstate transportation of fodder. He said that so far 168 truckloads of wheat bhusa, cattle feed, green fodder has been transported from outside the state. A total of 450 permits have been issued in the district Kangra for interstate and intrastate transportation of feed and fodder including poultry feed. A sum of Rs. 12,39,660 has been provided to Gau-sadans to procure wheat bhusa, fodder and another proposal of additional funds for providing fodder for at least one month in Gau-sadans has been submitted to the government.