Lok Sabha Question No. 1414 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Animal Feed Plants in Maharashtra
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Anup Sanjay Dhotre

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 1414 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  JULY 2025

## ANIMAL FEED PLANTS IN MAHARASHTRA

## 1414. SHRI ANUP SANJAY DHOTRE:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any proposals of the Government to set up animal feed plants in Akola or Washim districts of Maharashtra;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to encourage the establishment of animal feed manufacturing units in rural areas, particularly in districts like Akola and Washim;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposals  to  collaborate  with  startups  that  focus  on sustainable animal feed production, specifically in Maharashtra;
- (d) the support/mechanisms placed by the Government to facilitate the growth of sustainable animal feed production in Maharashtra; and
- (e) the manner by which these initiatives benefit farmers and animal rearers in districts like Akola and Washim?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)

- (a). No Sir. Government is not in receipt of any proposal to set up animal feed plants in Akola or Washim districts of Maharashtra.
- (b), (c), (d) & (e)The Govt. of India provides support related to feed and fodder development activities  underAnimal  Husbandry  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (AHIDF)  and  National Livestock Mission (NLM) schemes.

Under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), Micro Small & Medium Enterprise (MSME) is an eligible entity for availing benefit for establishment of Animal feed plants.  The scheme is demand driven wherein proposals are considered based on merit and eligibility,  irrespective  of  geographical  location.  Applications  are  processed  through  a transparent  online  portal  and  approvals  are  granted  based  on  project  viability,  adherence  to scheme guidelines and loan sanction by the concerned lending institutions.

In addition to Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), (where interest subvention is provided to Dairy Co-operatives, Farmer Producer Organization (FPO), Private companies,  individual  entrepreneur,  Section  8  companies,  and  Micro  Small  &  Medium Enterprise (MSME) for establishment of Animal feed plants) Department is also supplementing the efforts made by the State Governments and Union Territories by implementing Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  National  Livestock  Mission  with  a  Sub  Mission  on  Feed  and  Fodder Development since 2014-15. The scheme has been realigned in July 2021 and again in March 2024 with objective to enhance the fodder availability with following components:

- i. Assistance for quality fodder seed production under which the incentives up to Rs.250/kg, Rs.150/kg  and  Rs.100  Rs/kg  are  given  for  production  of  Breeder,  Foundation  and Certified seeds respectively.
- ii. Entrepreneurial  activities  in  feed  and  fodder  for  Infrastructure  development  related  to Hay/Silage/Total  Mixed  Ration(TMR)/  Fodder  Block  and  storage  of  fodder  where  in
3. subsidy    of  50%  of  the  total  project  cost  (up  to  Rs.50  lakhs)  is  provided  to  the beneficiaries.
- iii. Establishment  of  seed  processing  and  grading  infrastructure  under  Entrepreneurial activities where in subsidy of 50% of the total project cost (up to Rs.50 lakhs) is provided to the beneficiaries.
- iv. Fodder Production from Non Forest Wasteland/rangeland/Non arable lands.
- v. Fodder Production from Forest Lands.

Besides above, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the Central Sector Scheme 'Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)' through National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) as implementing agency to form and promote 100 FPOs, primarily fodder centric FPOs.

Further, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI Jhansi- ICAR) has developed Fodder Resources Development Plans for 29 States including Maharashtra which include an area-specific strategy to be adopted to overcome the deficiency of green and dry fodder of the region and also to provide an executable plan for the State government and other agencies involved in livestock-related policy and planning.

The Department has also undertaken extensive awareness initiatives such as seminars, video conferences and advisories to States, and regional review meetings to promote and encourage the establishment of animal feed manufacturing units in rural areas. It organized several key events during January 2025, including the Entrepreneurship Development Conclave 2025 in Pune, Maharashtra, and the Conclave on the Theme 'Dialogue for Holistic Development of the Livestock Sector' in Shillong, Meghalaya.

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