Vijayawada: To address the cattle menace, particularly cows and oxen who walk into agricultural fields and damage standing crops in Chandarlapadu mandal, adjacent to the Krishna River, the NTR district district administration initiated measures to identify the habitats of these stray cattle in the area. The officials are considering to relocate the cattle to a Goshala that will be exclusively established for their rehabilitation.
After Nandigama MLA Tangirala Sowmya highlighted the plight of farmers who suffered extensive crop damages in various island villages along the Krishna River in Chandarlapadu Mandal in the Nandigama constituency due to the frequent straying of wild cattle, the district administration took action to address the issue.
Speaking to TOI, NTR district forest officer (DFO) G Satish said the issue is first-of-its-kind, as there are over 1,000 non-domesticated cows straying into human habitations and damaging crops in agricultural fields. He explained that the cows cannot be categorised as wild because they were either abandoned or got separated from farmers, leading to their multiplication into hundreds, which is now creating havoc in island villages in the region.
“After analysing the ground-level situation, authorities found it difficult to relocate the cows since they are non-domesticated, and capturing them might have cascading repercussions, including potential fatalities. To avoid this, Gau Samrakshana members have come forward to set up an enclosure, dig trenches around it, and domesticate the cattle. Once domesticated, they will either be handed over to local farmers or shifted to nearby temples,” he said.
The DFO added that the animal husbandry department and other concerned departments have been tasked with tackling the cow herds, while the forest department will provide the necessary support to tame, capture, and relocate them to the nearest enclosure, which will be established soon. “The forest department will study previous operations to suggest appropriate measures for capturing the cows without causing them any harm,” G Satish stated.
Meanwhile, farmers in the region opine that the cows have been barging into their fields due to a shortage of natural fodder, which was originally available in the lands inside island villages of the Krishna River.
“Many farmers in the region converted agricultural fields for cultivating Subabul wood following incentives provided by paper industries. As a result, the stray cattle are invading these Subabul plantations, which serve as fodder for livestock,” said Ramaiah, a local farmer.
