Question : Shortage of Fodder

(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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