LUCKNOW, Feb. 12 -- Managing stray cattle to protect farmers' crops continues to be among the top priorities of the Yogi Adityanath government, with this single task securing a department-scale allocation in the state budget.

The annual budget has seen an allocation of Rs.2,000 crore for feeding destitute cattle and another Rs.100 crore for building more cow shelters in the state. The provision comes amid continued rural concerns over crop damage and cattle management challenges, which the government acknowledged in its address while detailing ongoing support to shelters housing stray animals. The state currently spends about Rs.50 per animal per day on feed.

In fiscal terms, the allocation places cattle welfare at a scale comparable to...