Karnataka proposes ₹25 lakh mini fodder kits as rain deficit looms over dairy farmers
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department in Karnataka has submitted a proposal to the State government to provide mini fodder kits worth ₹25 lakh to dairy farmers, anticipating a shortage of cattle fodder due to deficient rainfall and lack of reservoir water for cultivation.
The department said the kits are a precautionary measure even though the government has not yet officially declared drought. “We want to ensure that farmers involved in dairy farming do not face issues due to shortage of fodder. Hence, we have submitted a proposal to the State government for the mini kits,” a senior official said.
The mini kits contain seeds capable of yielding fodder within 60 days of sowing. During normal monsoon years, farmers grow fodder in their fields and also feed crop residue to cattle, so such kits are not distributed. However, this year, deficient rain and no water release from reservoirs have made cultivation difficult. The official noted that a similar situation existed in 2023, when the department had distributed mini kits to farmers.
According to departmental estimates and communication with farmers, dry fodder is available for the next four months, but there is a shortage of green fodder, which adds nutritional value to the diet of cows.
The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is also supporting dairy farmers by providing high-yield dairy fodder at subsidised prices and planting slips through District Milk Unions across all districts. KMF provides Super Napier stems to farmers, which can grow up to 15 feet in 37 days and multiply quickly. Although the grass requires regular watering, its deep root system makes it more drought-tolerant than traditional Napier grass.
“We provide 50% funds for fodder seeds to all District Milk Unions. Another 50% expenses are borne by them. They purchase the seeds and supply to farmers in need of fodder seeds. We have more than 27 lakh dairy farmers registered with us. However, all of them might not need green fodder as some might cultivate it on their own,” said a senior KMF official.
Additionally, milk unions provide silage at subsidised rates to farmers whose farms depend on borewells and are not rainfed.
The department’s move is seen as a proactive step to protect the livelihoods of dairy farmers, who have been hit by back-to-back poor monsoons in parts of the State. In 2023, similar kits helped many farmers sustain their cattle through the dry months.
Dairy farmers, however, have raised concerns about the availability of water to grow fodder. Jayachandra Sharma, a dairy farmer from Tumakuru, said he has around 40 cows and fodder stock sufficient for two months. “Though KMF or the Animal Husbandry department will provide fodder seeds, we need water to grow them. I urge the government to release water from reservoirs in canals so that farmers can grow the fodder,” he said.
The proposal comes as the State faces the prospect of a water crisis, with reservoirs not being able to meet irrigation demands. The department’s initiative is aimed at mitigating the impact on the dairy sector, which supports lakhs of families. The final decision on the proposal rests with the State government.
