The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has sent teams of veterinary doctors, medicines, cattle feed and milk chilling equipment worth Rs 5 crore to Orissa to help rehabilitate the super cyclone ravaged dairy cooperatives in the state.
About 50,000 dairy cooperative households are reported to have been hit by the cyclone, mostly in the districts of Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Puri. Besides the loss of cattle that has already taken place, a large number of surviving animals are also facing the risk of diseases and starvation. About 75 tonnes of cattle feed have already reached Orissa, while arrangements are afoot for shipment of another 225 tonnes.
According to the NDDB, ten veterinarians have reached Orissa and have vaccinated about 10,500 risk-prone cattle in Cuttack and Puri. About 3,000 diseased cattle have been treated. The disruption in milk supply has affected both consumers and milk producers. NDDB is helping the cooperatives to resume milk procurement.
