Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Sep 29 (PTI) Faced with an impending fodder crisis amid drought conditions, the Animal Husbandry department in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district has launched a survey to assess cattle and available feed stocks in the region, an official said on Tuesday.
Officials confirmed that the month-long survey will map shortages across the region, as traditional fodder cultivation has shrunk and neighbouring states of Karnataka and Telangana are battling similar monsoon deficits.
“Poor rainfall has caused drought-like conditions in various parts of Maharashtra. There can be a shortage of fodder. The Animal Husbandry department has started a fresh survey of cattle and available fodder stocks,” Joint Commissioner of the department Dr Pundalik Borkar told PTI.
A report will be prepared and tabled before the government in one month, he said.
”There is a possibility of fodder scarcity if there are no big spells of rain. Farmers used to sow jowar, bajra and corn in a portion of their fields and these would serve as cattle feed. But now, this area has shrunk,” he said.
Borkar, however, said that the state government has initiated steps to ensure availability of fodder.
”We are in the process of giving away seeds to farmers wherever there is water availability so that the fodder can be produced. At the same time, we have to look for new places from where fodder can be procured because the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Telangana are facing similar conditions,” he noted.
The Maharashtra government has declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas, or 74 per cent of the state, amid rainfall deficit, and announced relief measures, including crop loan restructuring, land revenue concessions, and power bill subsidies for farmers. PTI AW ARU
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.