Move to collect Batticaloa's 30,000 stray cattle

COLOMBO: The Livestock Development Ministry has made arrangements to collect about 30,000 stray cattle affected by the destruction of houses, farms and cattle sheds in the Batticaloa District.

The Livestock Development Ministry has commenced this programme and the National Livestock Development Board has made arrangements to put up temporary cattle sheds.

If the owners have identified their cattle in the temporary cattle sheds, they could ascertain their ownership through the Grama Sevaka Officers or Regional Secretary or Veterinary Surgeon and take the animals, the Government Information Department said.

The Livestock Development Ministry's main objective is to bring unclaimed cattle to the Kandakaduwa Dairy Farm after developing it and use the cattle for insemination and milk production.

If the cattle are still unclaimed by the owners, the cattle would be taken to the Kandeketiya Farm, the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Livestock Development and Employees Trust Fund will jointly introduce an insurance coverage for the protection of national dairy farmers and their dependents.

To get membership in the insurance coverage, a monthly premium of Rs. 200 has to be paid and dairy farmers who get membership will be entitled to several benefits. Upto Rs. 100,000 will be paid for heart surgical operations and kidney transplant while farmers who become disabled, will get a maximum of Rs. 150,000.

Assistance for contact lens fixing, scholarships for children and housing loans are the other benefits. More details could be obtained from the Employees Trust Fund on September 22 and 23 during a public awareness programme at the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council grounds.

This insurance coverage awareness programme will be conducted islandwide. The Ministry believes about 200,000 self-employed members of the Dairy Farmers Society will benefit from this.