Lok Sabha Question No. 2000 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Components of Fodder Production
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2000 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  AUGUST, 2023

## COMPONENTS OF FODDER PRODUCTION

## 2000. SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMALHUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there has been rapidly decline of grassland cover, especially in the semi-arid regions and its impact on the livestock sector in the country;
- (b) if so, whether the Government has taken initiatives to study the components of fodder production during the last five years;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  names  of  the  leading  States  in  terms  of  recovery  tactics/afforestation  measures taken for this declining cover;
- (e) the  number  of  cow  shelters  in  the  country  along  with  the  number  of  cows  being reared therein, State/UT-wise particularly in Odisha;
- (f) whether  there  is a directive  or  measure  inplace  to  provide  subsidies  by  the Government to these cow shelters; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof along with the details of criteria fixed for such assistance and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a) Yes, Sir. As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India of June 2021 prepared by Space Applications Centre, the area of degraded land in Semi Arid regions was estimated at  34.85 Million ha,35.40 Million ha and 36.02 Million ha in 2003-05, 2011-13 and 2018-19 respectively, as a result, the availability of fodder for livestock is being affected.
- (b) and (c) The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office of NITI Aayog Government of  India  has  submitted  its  sectoral  report  on  Agriculture,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Fisheries sector  in  July  2021.The  report  covers  the  study  on  the  component  of  fodder  production implemented by this department  and has made recommendations.
- (d)  As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India June 2021 prepared by Space Applications Centre around 23.79% (2018-19), 23.63% (2011-13) and 23.34% (200305) of the area undergoing desertification/land degradation with respect to Total Geographical Area (TGA) of the country is contributed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Ladakh UT, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana (in descending order). All other remaining States are contributing less than 1% (individually) w.r.t country TGA.

(e)  As  per  Basic  Animal  Husbandry  Statistics,  total  number  of  gaushala  in  the  country including  Odisha  State  is  7676.  The  State-wise  detailed  list  of  gaushala  is  attached  at Annexure. The data regarding number of cows in those gaushalas are not maintained.

(f)&(g)  As  per  the  Article  246(3)  of  Constitution  of  India,  preservation,  protection  and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice are under State list  for  which  the  States  have  exclusive  powers  to  make  laws.  As  per  Article 243(W) of Constitution of India, the local bodies are responsible for cattle pounds and pinjra pole.  Therefore,  the  State  may  also  endow  panchayats  to  establish  and  run  Cattle  Pounds (Kanji  Houses)/  Gaushala  Shelters  (community  assets)  to  keep  stray  cattle.  Many  States have established Gaushalas and Shelter houses for stray cattle and provide for feeding of those animals.

In view of the above-mentioned constitutional provisions, the State is empowered to take  appropriate  action  on  stray  animals.  Further,  the  Animal  Welfare  Board  of  India  is providing some assistance to establish Shelter by the Animal Board of India recognized as Animal Welfare Organizations to establish shelter.

***

## ANNEXURE

Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2000

To be answered on 01.08.2023

## State-wise list of Gaushala in the country

| Sl. No.   | Name of the State           | Others   |
|-----------|-----------------------------|----------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh              | 56       |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh           |          |
| 3         | Assam                       | 16       |
| 4         | Bihar                       | 87       |
| 5         | Chhattisgarh                | 117      |
| 6         | Goa                         | 9        |
| 7         | Gujarat                     | 1418     |
| 8         | Haryana                     | 640      |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh            | 221      |
| 10        | Jammu &Kashmir              | 36       |
| 11        | Jharkhand                   | 31       |
| 12        | Karnataka                   | 220      |
| 13        | Kerala                      | -        |
| 14        | Madhya Pradesh              | 905      |
| 15        | Maharashtra                 | 222      |
| 16        | Manipur                     |          |
| 17        | Meghalaya                   |          |
| 18        | Mizoram                     | Nil      |
| 19        | Nagaland                    | -        |
| 20        | Odisha                      | 93       |
| 21        | Punjab                      | 447      |
| 22        | Rajasthan                   | 2269     |
| 23        | Sikkim                      | -        |
| 24        | Tamil Nadu                  | 75       |
| 25        | Telangana                   | 175      |
| 26        | Tripura                     |          |
| 27        | Uttarakhand                 | 34       |
| 28        | Uttar Pradesh               | 582      |
| 29        | West Bengal                 |          |
| 30        | A&N Islands*                | -        |
| 31        | Chandigarh                  | 3        |
| 32        | Ladakh                      | 0        |
| 33        | D.&N. Haveli and Daman &Diu | 6        |
| 34        | Delhi                       | 4        |
| 35        | Lakshadweep                 | 0        |
| 36        | Puducherry*                 | -        |
| All India | All India                   | 7676     |

Source: State/UTs Animal Husbandry Department