The provincial government has put forward a legal and long-term plan, saying that the increasing problem of stray animals has led to road accidents, crop damage, and increased challenges in health services.
What you should know
Data has been made public that there are approximately 12,732 stray animals in Lumbini Province.
The provincial government, Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives, has emphasized in the survey study report on stray animal management that there are still about 4,000 animals out of management in the province, emphasizing the need to make the legal structure and cooperation result-oriented.
Although the capacity of the 39 gaushalas operating in various districts of the province is 11,677, the statistics indicate that only 8,995 animals are currently managed. Although an additional 2,682 animals can be kept in those gaushalas, it is noted that about 1,000 animals will still be out of management. The report was prepared by a committee formed under the coordination of Agriculture Minister Dinesh Panthi after on-site observation, data collection, interaction and discussions with stakeholders. The report prepared by the ministry has been submitted to Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya.
Understanding the report, Chief Minister Acharya directed to present the bill to be prepared for stray animal management in the winter session itself. He said that gaushalas should be made systematic in collaboration with the community and that this is the basis for moving forward by prioritizing breed improvement and organic fertilizer production in the future.
'In the future, those cowsheds can be used for breed improvement,' said Chief Minister Acharya, 'These cowsheds will be the basis for meeting the livestock requirements of the state. It is necessary to take this forward with a long-term plan as they can also become a center for organic fertilizer.'
The problem of stray cattle is seen to be most serious in the Terai districts. Many cowsheds lack feed, water, manpower and animal health services. The report states that the management of injured, sick and extremely weak animals is challenging. Minister for Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives Dinesh Panthi informed.
It is mentioned that managing animals in cowsheds will cost Rs 100 per animal. The report also includes the issue of daily care of 50 animals, grass and one manpower for feed and water, said Anil Marasini, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives.
The report has pointed out challenges such as the lack of clarity among the three levels of government on who has the primary responsibility for managing stray animals, the legal basis for government investment in cowsheds run by private or religious organizations, and the lack of clarity on the legal basis for government investment in cowsheds run by private or religious organizations.
It is mentioned that the technological use of cow dung and urine, testing of organic fertilizers and market management are weak, and the tendency to abandon animals overnight has increased due to the lack of a sense of responsibility at the citizen level. The report states that conservation efforts can be facilitated because cows are respected culturally and religiously, the report states. It also includes examples of how some cowsheds have increased self-reliance through milk, manure, biogas and herbal products.
The committee has suggested that the province should support the construction of cowshed infrastructure through a conditional budget, that the local level should take the lead in land and grass management, that animal tagging should be made mandatory, and that an arrangement be made to collect Rs 5,000 from those who want to give animals to the cowshed. The report also includes a proposal to facilitate the processing and market management of organic excreta, and to formulate a model law to guide the local level in its implementation.
The report concludes that after the bill is passed, coordination between the province and local levels in stray animal management will increase with a clear role, road accidents and crop destruction will decrease, animal health services will improve, and cowsheds will gradually become self-sufficient.
