Hubballi :

The Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation is turning its focus on modern methods of rearing new breeds of sheep.

At the inaugural of a one-day technical workshop here for shepherds of Dharwad district, Panditrao Chidri, corporation chairman, said, “The country has seen many revolutions like White Revolution and the Green Revolution. But, sheep-rearing has not gone through any revolution. The sector needs a big revolution in order to cater to the needs of the public. The corporation has decided to distribute Nari Suvarana sheep, a breed specially reared for meat production that can be reared all through the year.”

He stressed on the need to rear unique breeds, %with each sheep weighing 30-40 kg, within six months. He pointed out that shepherds sell their ram and sheep, without weighing them, at throwaway prices. This, he added, has turned into a windfall for butchers or middlemen. “To avoid such situations, the corporation has decided to install weighing machines at all sheep-selling markets in the state at a cost of Rs 5 crore.”

The Karnataka Sheep and Wool Development Corporation is also expanding its services to new territories. It earlier had offices in just six districts. “Now, we have set up offices in 23 districts. So, shepherds can visit our offices and get all the information they want,” said Chidri.

He said the corporation will conduct a mass convention in Davanagere next month to urge the state government to raise the fund allocation for it from Rs 50 crore to Rs 500 crore in the next budget.

He also asked shepherds to open new credit cooperative societies. “As of now, we have 320 such societies in the state. We have to raise the number to 1,000.We have to turn the corporation into a federation,” said Chidri. MLA CS Shivalli, deputy director of animal husbandry and veterinary services Dr R Anand Gupta and others were present

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubballi / TNN / March 31st, 2015