Lok Sabha Question No. 737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: National Fodder and Pasture Management Policy
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

ADMITTED QUESTION NO. 737

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  MARCH, 2016

## 'NATIONAL FODDER AND PASTURE MANAGEMENT POLICY'

## 737.  SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL

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

- (a) whether there is acute shortage of fodder for livestocks in various States of the country, if so, the details  and  the  consequences  thereof  including  adverse  effects  on  animal  husbandry  and  dairy industry;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  contemplating  to  formulate  a  National  Fodder  and  Pasture Management Policy to bridge the gap between demand and supply of animal fodder;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  total  area  of  land  where  fodder  and  pasture  resources  are  available  in  the country including Rajasthan;
- (e) whether the Government is considering to set up fodder banks in various States of the country and  revitalise  the  old  and  degrading  pasture  resources  in  the  country  in  order  to  overcome  the shortage of animal fodder and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government proposes to provide training and incentive  to the farmers to produce multi-perennial fodder crops at the empty spaces available between the lines of trees in orchards and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (DR. SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN)

Madam,

- a)  As  per  ICAR-Jhansi  based  Indian  Grassland  and  Fodder  Research  Institute  vision-2050 document, at present in the country,  there is an estimated deficit of 35.6% green fodder (supply of 526 MT against demand of 817 MT) and 11.0% of dry forage (supply of 453 MT against demand of 509 MT).
- b) & c) The fodder and pasture management are covered under the Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development of the National Livestock Mission of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF).

Further,  Government  formulated  Accelerated  Fodder  Development  Programme  in  2011-12  under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) of Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare which continued upto 2013-14. The assistance for fodder development was also provided under this scheme

From 2014-15, Additional Fodder Development Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) of Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare has been formulated for drought affected areas, which is continuing at present.

Further, States undertake Fodder Development under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as per  their  requirement,  which  is  approved  by  the  State  Level  Sanctioning  Committee  (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary.

d)  As  per  the  latest  report  furnished  by  Directorate  of  Economics  &  Statistics  Department  of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare in their Land Use Statistics at Glance May 2015 report, the total area under fodder cultivation and total permanent pasture and other grazing land in the country including Rajasthan are 9,188 and 10,240 (thousand ) hectares respectively.

State-wise area under fodder cultivation and pasture & other grazing land in the country are given in Annexure-I & Annexure-II.

e) Earlier, this Department was implementing the component of establishment of fodder banks, but it was dropped from the Central scheme on the recommendations of Planning Commission in the year 2005. The main reason behind this recommendation was that the States were not coming forward to implement the component. A major constraint in sustaining fodder banks is the limited shelf-life of stored fodder, coupled with uncertain and fluctuating demands. Higher transportation costs  also  make  the  price  of  stored  fodder  inhibitory,  even  if  densified  fodder  blocks  are transported.  Generally,  in  a  normal  rainfall  years,  sufficient  fodder  is  available  in  the  form  of green fodder and crop residues at much cheaper rates. This is a reason as to why the component of fodder block making units is not being utilised by entrepreneurs,  as they  are never sure of the demands,  and  storing  fodder  beyond  a  few  months  may  reduces  the  quality  to  the  extent  of rendering it unfit for consumption by livestock.

f)  The  Regional  Fodder  Stations  under  the  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry,  Dairying  and Fisheries (DADF) situated in different parts of the country provide free trainings to the farmers for growing  various muliti-perennial fodder crops as per their agro-ecological climatic conditions.

In  addition  to  this,  ICAR  Indian  Grassland  &  Fodder  Research  Institute,  Jhansi  conducts regular  training  programmes  for  farmers  for  growing  perennial  grasses  in  the  space  available between  trees  in  the  orchards.  The  varieties  of  grasses/crops  varies  depending  upon  the  agroclimatic  conditions  in  different  regions  of  the  country.  The  perennial  grasses  propagated  for demonstrations during the training programmes are Bajra Napier Hybrid, Guinea grass, perennial sorghum,  etc.  Beside  training  programmes  are  organized  in  the  institute.  1-2  days  trainings  at farmers'  fields  are  also  organized  for  growing  of  perennial  grasses  under  institute  outreach programmes like  Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav and Adarsh Chara Gram. Incentive in the form of free root slips of perennial grasses  are given to farmers initially so that other farmers in the village can also see its importance and prepare nursery in the village itself.

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