(a) whether the Government will make an effective programme to end the scarcity of fodder for livestock;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government will provide any incentive for making fodder from the crop residue of wheat and paddy after harvesting; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to promote farming of fodder on pastures and unused land?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES,ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(DR.SANJEEV KUMAR BALYAN )
(a) and (b) Union Government in conjunction with the State Government and Union Territories is already taking necessary measures to reduce the shortage of fodder through various Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz., National Livestock Mission with a Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, Additional Fodder Development Programme. Under these programmes, financial assistance is provided to the States and Union Territories for various fodder developmental programmes planned by them.
(c) For collection of straw of crops after the harvesting like paddy and wheat, the machineries like Bailer, Straw Reaper, Hey Rack, etc. promoted through Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization Scheme (SMAM) and subsidy for their procurement is available at 50 Per cent for SC, ST, Small and Marginal Farmers, Women and North East States beneficiary and at 40 percent for other beneficiaries. Under the Sub Mission ‘Feed and Fodder Development’ of the National Livestock Mission, there is provision of financial assistance up to Rupees Seventy Five Lakhs only towards the cost of a fodder block making unit under the sub component ‘Establishment of high capacity Fodder Block Making units’ and up to Rupees Ten lakhs only towards low capacity tractor mountable Fodder Block making units, hay bailing machines/reapers/forage harvesters etc.
(d) Development of pasture lands for community and individuals are permissible under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA. As per the Annual Master Circular Para 7.6.11, development of pasture lands under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA and for drought proofing, plantation of fodder trees or horticulture plants or a mix and perennial grasses like Anjan (Cenchrus ciliaris), Fox tail grass (Chloris gayana), Napier (Pennisetum purpureum) or any appropriate legumes like Stylo etc. approved by the concerned technical departments of State Government can be taken up.This activity shall be taken up only once in a particular land in consultation with the concerned technical Departments. Mahatma Gandhi NREGA is a demand driven programme with a ‘bottom up’ approach.
During FY 2019-20, a total of 16970 pasture development works have been completed and 15666 works are ongoing. The total expenditure in FY 2019-20 is Rs. 6275.71lakh and expenditure in the ongoing works is Rs. 9072.7 lakh.
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