THODUPUZHA:
Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister J. Chinchurani handed over five cows and a month’s feed for them to teenaged farmer Mathew Benny who lost 13 cattle-heads due to poisoning.
Accompanied by top officials of Kerala Feeds Limited (KFL) which provided the cattle-feed at the dairyist’s house at Velliyamattam near here, the Minister promosed continued support to 15-year-old Mathew who suffered the loss a fortnight ago.
The Minister revealed that the five Holstein Friesian cows are of high milk-yield category brought from a farm in Mattupetty, also of Idukki district. While KFL officials will brief Mathew about the dietary requirements of the cows, experts from Kerala Livestock Development Board will give advice on special advice to the farmer.
“Since Mathew wants to do higher studies, it will be ideal to have less number of cows,” the Minister said.
KFL Managing Director Dr B. Sreekumar said farmers should have a wholesome idea abou the pros and cons of the feed they give to cattle.
Chinchurani, along with Irrigation Minister Roshy Augustine, had earlier visited the farmer at his house, soo after the mishap. The government then gave him a compensation of Rs 45,000, while actor Jayaram, who is KFL’s brand ambassador, volunteered financial support.
Mathew, as a class-10 student, began his engagement as a dairy farmer recently after his father died unexpectedly. The cows were the lone source of income to the four-member family comprising Mathew’s mother Shiny, brother George and sister Rose Mary.
The 1995-founded KFL manufacturers products for various breeds of cows with the aim of keeping them in good health as well as better productivity and quality of milk.
