In a bid to hit back against the recent restrictions on cattle trade by the Centre, meat traders and workers associations in Kerala plan to start local cattle farms in all districts.

The decision was taken after discussion at a meeting organised by CITU and CPM affiliated union Vyapari Vyavasayi Samithi, in Kozhikode on Tuesday.

The meeting was held in the wake of the new Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, which has resulted in a subsequent shortage of cattle supply from other states.

The The Times of India reported that the cattle flesh trade industry in Kerala, is around Rs 6,500 crore and the sector employed around 5,000 people. The meeting also decided to carry on a protest campaign against the Centre, for imposing the new rules.

Participants also decided to form an umbrella organisation of those who related to this trade.

“To beat the crisis, state government has decided to promote cattle rearing in a broad way, so that we can meet the needs of the industry. The meat traders and workers should come forward to form cooperative societies in all districts to set up commercial cattle farms. The state government would provide help to cooperatives as part of its policy to enhance availability of cattle in the state following the curbs imposed by the central government,” ToI quotes CITU state secretary Elamaram Kareem, who inaugurated the convention, as saying.

The meeting also decided to appeal to the state government, to allot low interest rate loans to start cattle farms.

Lashing out at the BJP-led Centre, Kareem told the meeting that the central government imposed the law after planning it very well, as it was introduced soon after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat demanded a nationwide beef ban.

Kareem also said that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had tried to mark the state’s protest in all possible ways, and even planned to organise a combined protest of chief ministers from different states.