The Department of Livestock Development kicks off the Royal Animal Feed Caravan of over 5,000 tons and the Mobile Veterinary Unit to help farmers affected by floods nationwide. The Department urges affected farmers to register to receive compensation as soon as possible.
Mr. Itthi Sirilathayakorn, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, presided over the Kick off activity of the Royal Animal Feed Caravan, 5,355,000 kilograms, along with the Mobile Veterinary Unit, to help farmers affected by floods. In addition, private sector entrepreneurs also supported 20,300 kilograms of animal feed to help flood victims under the project 'United Hearts, Help Flood Victims' at the Department of Livestock Development Government Center, Tiwanon Road, Bangkadi Subdistrict, Mueang District, Pathum Thani Province.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives revealed that Thailand has been affected by the storm, which has resulted in widespread flooding, affecting farmers' livestock in many areas in both the North and the Northeast, such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Nong Khai, and Nakhon Phanom. This has caused farmers to suffer and lack food for their animals. Some areas have evacuated their pets to safer higher ground. Some animals are sick and need immediate care. The Department of Livestock Development has planned and prepared well in various aspects, enabling them to provide assistance to farmers by evacuating animals, delivering animal feed, and sending mobile veterinary units to care for animals, which has alleviated some of the suffering. However, there is still a great need. The policy to provide assistance to farmers affected by flooding in all areas, including the action plan to provide assistance to farmers in other areas, will continue until the situation returns to normal. The Dep artment will also urgently survey the damage to provide assistance to farmers.
Veterinarian Somchuan Rattanamangkalanon, Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development, added that due to the flood situation, the Department of Livestock Development has mobilized all forces to provide assistance to farmers, including animal evacuation, animal food, and animal medical treatment, in order to alleviate the suffering and reduce the damage to farmers. However, there are still many farmers who need animal feed and care for sick animals. In order to provide assistance to farmers affected by the floods in a comprehensive and unified manner, the Department of Livestock Development has organized an activity to release the royal animal feed convoy, along with a mobile veterinary service unit, with the goal of simultaneously operating nationwide to distribute 5,355,000 kilograms of royal animal feed, which is essential for the survival of pets, to farmers affected by the floods in various provinces, along with a mobile veterinary service unit, to alleviate the suffering of farmers in all areas.
For the flood situation, the Department of Livestock Development surveyed the affected provinces in terms of livestock and found that there were 10 provinces: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Uttaradit, Amnat Charoen, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, and Bueng Kan, totaling 31 districts, 86 sub-districts, 309 villages, 7,958 farmers, with 320,438 animals in the flooded areas, consisting of 23,007 cows, 12,443 buffaloes, 12,373 pigs, 903 goats/sheep, and 271,712 poultry. There were also 302.50 rai of damaged grass fields, for which the Department of Livestock Development provided immediate assistance by providing 302,925 kilograms of animal food, evacuating 28,713 animals, supporting 635 animal health promotion kits, treating 284 animals, and providing 91 animal survival bags.
'After the flood, there will be care and assistance for farmers who raise animals according to the regulations. Farmers who are affected but have not registered yet should hurry to register so that they can continue to receive assistance,' said the Director-General of the Department of Livestock Development.
In this regard, farmers who have been affected by the flood can contact for animal food and livestock assistance at the provincial livestock office, district livestock office, or the local animal feed research and development center, community leaders, local-area leaders, or contact the Livestock Disaster Prevention and Resolution Center (LDPC), Department of Livestock Development, Livestock Development and Promotion Division, Tel. 0-2653-4444 ext. 3315 and the DLD 4.0 application so that officials can provide timely assistance.
Source: Thai News Agency