Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar : Farmers with untagged cattle could miss out on free fodder and veterinary services during the drought, with the state animal husbandry department making ear-tagging mandatory for livestock relief.
More than 2.4 crore livestock had been ear-tagged under the state’s digital tracking initiative by mid-2024, before tagging became mandatory. Updated figures were not immediately available.
Dnyandev Nanrale, a farmer from Beed district, said three of his six cattle do not have tags. There have been cases in which ear tags fall on their own as animals grow,” he said. Farmers’ rights activist Jayaji Suryawanshi said making tags a condition for drought aid could exclude genuine beneficiaries and force distressed farmers to sell cattle. It would only leave out many beneficiaries and, in turn, cause panic sale of cattle,” he said.
“The ear tags are often removed after the purchase of new cattle in the cattle market to clear owner records. Also, many newborn calves do not have such tagging. “The ear tagging of cattle must not be made a prerequisite for implementing drought relief measures involving livestock.
A senior animal husbandry department official said the policy, as of now, is to provide livestock-related drought relief only for tagged animals. Just like Aadhaar is mandatory for citizens in many govt works, ‘Pashu Aadhaar’ is essential to curb unethical practices,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “Ear tagging of all livestock in the state and their registration on Bharat Pashudhan application was done as a part of National Digital Livestock Mission. The tagging is also called ‘Pashu Aadhaar’. Animal husbandry minister Pankaja Munde could not be reached for comment.