Cattle-feed Raw Material to be Brought in Through Rail: Minister Chinchu Rani

THRISSUR:
The Kerala government is arranging with the Centre to use special trains that will bring raw materials for cattle feed to the state, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister J Chinchu Rani said today.

The administration has completed talks with the Ministry of Railways to get concessions in the transport fare as part of the plan that will make cattle feed affordable to the farmers, she said after inaugurating a facilitation centre (FACE) of Kerala Feeds Ltd (KFL) which will update the farmers with latest trends and scientific practices in milk manufacture.

“Our move comes ahead of the launch of microchips that store the complete data of the health of cows under the E-Samridh programme which we are starting in Pathanamthitta on an experimental basis,” Smt Chinchu Rani said at the function in the state-owned PSU’s headquarters near Irinjalakuda, where Higher Education Minister Dr R. Bindu unveiled an updated version of the KFL website carrying details of the company’s latest products.

Also, the government is considering to setup ways for mass manufacture of feeds for pet animals and birds, Smt Chinchu Rani said at the ceremony in the fully airconditioned FACE with a seating capacity of 150.

Earlier, Minister Dr Bindu, while chairing the function at KFL’s premises in Kallettumkara, called upon the company to initiate production in feed items for pet animals and birds, noting that they are gaining popularity across the state. “The company can set up a state-of-the-art plant for this endeavour,” she suggested.

“The new facilitation centre will help avert and solve diseases in the world of animal husbandry including poultry,” said the minister, who is also the local legislator. “It can also enthuse farmers to grow grass used as fodder for cattle.”

KFL Chairman K. Sreekumar, welcoming the gathering, noted that the company has emerged back as profit-making despite a continuing scarcity of raw materials and constraints on a PSU to raise the prices of its products on par with competitors in the private sector.

The PSU’s Managing Director Dr B. Sreekumar said KFL is all set to bring out a feed for broiler chicken. The new product will be distributed through Kudumbashree volunteers, he revealed, while presenting a report on the projects of the company.

KFL Assistant General Manager Usha Padmanabhan proposed thanks.

The facilitation centre has come up in the premises of KFL’s plant at the headquarters in Kallettumkara. The function saw the launch of three products: chick mash for chicken up to two months old, milk booster that gives energy to milch cows and increase the quality of their milk, and 20-kg calf starter as a comprehensive feed for young calves.

The ceremony was attended by Mala Block Panchayat President Sandhya Simon and Aloor Grama Panchayat President K.R. Jojo, besides Kerala Livestock Development Board MD Dr R Rajeev, who is a top member on the KFL Board. Among others at the event were leaders of trade unions and senior KFL officials.

The 1995-founded KFL has a range of products that cater to different breeds of cows, ensuring good health besides better productivity and quality of milk.