Lok Sabha Question No. 5141 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-27
Subject: Shortage of Fodder
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: DEVJI MANSINGRAM PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, DAIRYING AND FISHERIES LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5141 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 th   MARCH,2018

## SHORTAGE OF FODDER

## 5141.  SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether there is a wide gap between the demand and supply of fodder in various States of the country, if so, the details and the consequences thereof along with the corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b)    whether it is a fact that only 5 per cent of agriculture land is being used for farming of fodder in the country including Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  fodder crisis has taken place in the country with the largest number of livestock causing forty per cent shortage of green fodder, thirty per cent shortage of dry fodder and fifteen per cent shortage of other fodders leading to acute shortage of not only nutritious and green fodder but also  dry  fodder  for  the  animals  alone  thus  affecting  the  domestic  demand  as well  as export of animal products;
- (d)      if so, whether the Government proposes to establish fodder banks at all the district centres of the country including Rajasthan under Accelerated Fodder Development Programme, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)    whether the Government proposes to provide training and encouragement to farmers to produce perennial fodder crops in vacant places between the rows in fruit orchards and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRIMATI  KRISHNA RAJ )

- (a) The  gap  between  the  demand  and  supply  of  fodder  in  various  states  varies  widely.  Overall, most of the states have deficit while few states like Punjab and Haryana  have surplus fodder and, States like  Kerala,  Odisha  have  larger  fodder  shortages.  To  overcome  the  shortage  of  feed  and  fodder, Government  in  collaboration  with  the  State  Government  have  already  taken  necessary  measures  to bridge  the  gap  between  the  demand  and  availability  of  the  fodder  in  various  parts  the  country  by providing  financial  assistance  to  the  States  and  UTs  under  Centrally  Sponsored  National  Livestock Mission of Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF) with a Sub Mission on Feed

and  Fodder  Development.  The  Mission  is  in  operational  since  2014-15  in  all  the  States  and  Union Territories.

Additional Fodder Development Programme (AFDP) as a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) of Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare is also being operational since  2014-15  till  date  in  the  Districts/Blocks  in  the  event  of  declaration  of  drought  by  the  State Government.

Further,  in  addition  to  this,  financial  assistance  is  also  provided  under  the  normal  programme  of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) of Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare for other  fodder  developmental  activities  planned  by  the  States  which  is  supported  by  Department  of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries.

(b) The figure of 5% is only national average and it differs widely across States with States like Punjab, Haryana,  Gujarat, having  8  to  10%  of  area  under  fodder  cultivation  while  other  States  have  lower percentage.

(c ) The shortages are arrived based on the assumption that all categories of livestock are fed as per the standard recommendations to meet the nutrient requirements for growth and production. However, it is well known that under field conditions, this is not practiced and due to shortages of  feed resources, farmers  feed  only  the  productive  animals  optimally  and  rest  of  the  animals  (male,  calves,  spent females)   are  fed  lower  quantities.  The  farmers  make  optimum  use  of  the  available  resources  by preferential feeding to productive animals for sustaining the production.

(d)    Accelerated  Fodder  Development  Programme  (AFDP)  as  a  sub-scheme  of  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas Yojna (RKVY) of Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare was  operational from 2011-12 to 2013-14. Additional Fodder Development Programme (AFDP) as a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) of Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare is operational since  2014-15  till  date    in  the  Districts/Blocks  in  the  event  of  declaration  of  drought  by  the  State Governments.

The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF) is implementing National Livestock Mission with a Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development in which financial assistance is provided to States and Union Territories under the  components establishment of fodder blocks and  silage making units which is parallel to fodder banks.

(e)    Under  the  National Livestock Mission financial assistance is  also provided under the components Fodder production from Non Forest wasteland/rangeland/non-arable land wherein individual  farmers can also take up perennial fodder crops cultivation in vacant places including fruit orchards.

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