Gujarat govt assures adequate fodder, irrigation water amid rainfall deficit

Gandhinagar, Aug 25 (IANS) The Gujarat government has stepped up measures to support livestock owners and farmers amid a rainfall deficit, with 16 lakh kg of fodder distributed across 301 villages, additional irrigation water being released and 10-hour power supply extended to seven districts, Minister and government spokesperson Jitu Vaghani said on Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference, Vaghani said around 90,000 livestock had been covered through the fodder distribution programme.

He said the state had sufficient stocks and that the Forest Department still held 361 lakh kg of fodder in reserve. “There is no shortage of fodder in the state; the government has sufficient stock available,” he said.

Fodder is being supplied to livestock owners at a concessional rate of Rs two per kg to limit their financial burden. District collectors have also been authorised to take immediate action based on local requirements.

“The state government stands firmly with cattle rearers in every situation, and all appropriate measures will continue to be taken as required,” Vaghani said.

On sugar availability, he said Gujarat has 17 sugar mills with a combined daily crushing capacity of 73,800 tonnes.

More than two lakh farmers supply sugarcane to the mills annually, with the state producing around nine lakh metric tonnes of sugar each year. The mills currently hold around 18 lakh quintals of sugar.

Vaghani said the mills were closed for the off-season and would resume operations after October 15, increasing available stocks.

“No sugar cooperative in Gujarat directly produces ethanol from sugarcane. Ethanol is produced from molasses obtained after sugar production,” he noted.

According to Vaghani, prices outside factories, which had earlier risen above Rs 6,500 per quintal, had fallen to below Rs 6,000 following government efforts. “Sugar prices in the market would also be brought under control in the near future,” he emphasised.

On irrigation, Vaghani said water supply to lakes and dams in Saurashtra and North Gujarat connected to the Narmada-based pipeline network was being undertaken through the Sauni and Sujalam Sufalam schemes.

“The government had decided to maintain the supply to protect standing crops from drying up. Drinking water is being supplied regularly to Pariyej and Kanewal lakes in the Mahi command area. The government has also decided to release irrigation water from the Kadana Dam to Anand and Kheda districts to protect standing crops,” he said.

Vaghani said the government is committed to preventing problems related to both irrigation and drinking water and would use water management measures to supply water to remote areas and agricultural fields.

“The government is currently providing eight hours of regular and quality electricity daily for agricultural purposes across all districts. However, 10-hour power supply has already been introduced in Amreli, Kutch, Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Gir Somnath, Porbandar and Junagadh, taking into account local geographical conditions and requirements,” he said.

Vaghani said the decision was not restricted to the seven districts and that the government is prepared to extend 10-hour electricity supply to other districts if additional power was required for crops or water.

–IANS

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