livestock departmentShortage of manpower has almost crippled the Livestock Department in the district, which could not achieve even 50 percent of its targets.A total of 30 posts are lying vacant in the department’s district setup for long, badly hampering its services.Official sources said the posts of additional livestock officer, office assistant and night guard in the district office have been lying vacant.In the district veterinary hospital, the posts of veterinary surgeon, veterinary compounder and office assistant are also lying vacant which has been hampering treatment of poultry birds, cattle and other animals.The posts of upazila livestock officer, office assistant and veterinary officer have also been lying vacant in four upazilas of the district.Last year, only 93,000 dairy animals were vaccinated against the target of 253,000. Besides, only 2.9 million poultry birds were vaccinated against the target of 8.25 million, official sources said.Shortage of manpower in the Livestock Department and inadequate supply of necessary medicines have also been hampering poultry farming in the district.The district livestock department was provided with only 72,000 dosages of vaccines last year against the demand 190,000 dosage for preventing various cattle diseases.District Livestock Officer Dr Khan Mohammad Hye said they are unable to provide adequate services to the people for lack of manpower and inadequate supply of medicines.He apprehended that if necessary measures are not taken immediately to fill up the vacant posts and supply medicines, various diseases might break out among the poultry birds, cattle and other animals in epidemic form. -UNB, Pirojpur
