Coimbatore : Farmers from Kongu Patteeswaran Ko Salai petitioned the District Collector requesting permission for grazing their cattle near forest areas to prevent them from near extinction.
Coimbatore : Farmers from Kongu Patteeswaran Ko Salai petitioned the District Collector requesting permission for grazing their cattle near forest areas to prevent them from near extinction.
The petition states that in 18 villages including Thondamuthur, Vadachitoor and Kuppanoor near the Western Ghats, rearing livestock in rural areas had been the livelihood for people until 2002 when the Forest Department had banned cattle grazing near the forest areas.
Ever since, the farmers complained that they have had to sell their cattle which are now on the verge of extinction. They noted in the petition that forests become more fertile areas when their livestock graze there with their cattle's milk being high in proteins.
The farmers blamed the increase in the number of amusement parks, jungle resorts, ashrams and residential apartments near forest areas as being the reason why permission is being denied for grazing.
The farmers urged the District Collector K Rajamani to take steps to ensure cattle grazing is allowed and to protect rural breeds from extinction. They requested the authorities to issue 'patty passes' to farmers who are currently dependent on only agriculture for their livelihood to enable them to also continue rearing livestock.
The petition states that in 18 villages including Thondamuthur, Vadachitoor and Kuppanoor near the Western Ghats, rearing livestock in rural areas had been the livelihood for people until 2002 when the Forest Department had banned cattle grazing near the forest areas.
Ever since, the farmers complained that they have had to sell their cattle which are now on the verge of extinction. They noted in the petition that forests become more fertile areas when their livestock graze there with their cattle's milk being high in proteins.
The farmers blamed the increase in the number of amusement parks, jungle resorts, ashrams and residential apartments near forest areas as being the reason why permission is being denied for grazing.
The farmers urged the District Collector K Rajamani to take steps to ensure cattle grazing is allowed and to protect rural breeds from extinction. They requested the authorities to issue 'patty passes' to farmers who are currently dependent on only agriculture for their livelihood to enable them to also continue rearing livestock.