India Faces Fodder Shortage: Government Initiatives to Mitigate Crisis

India is experiencing a significant shortage of animal fodder. The Indian government, through the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, is implementing various schemes to address this issue, including the National Livestock Mission. India is a leading milk producer globally, contributing 25% of global milk production.

India is grappling with a severe shortage of animal fodder, and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is taking steps to enhance fodder availability. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, informed Parliament about the deficit in both green and dry fodder, estimated at 11.24-32 percent and 23 percent, respectively, by the ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI) Jhansi.

In response to this crisis, the government has been supplementing state efforts through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Livestock Mission, restructured in July 2021. The mission aims to boost fodder availability with components like quality fodder seeds production and fodder production on non-arable and forest land. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture is promoting fodder-centric Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to further enhance resources.

India leads global milk production, contributing 25 percent of the world's supply. The country's milk production has surged from 187.7 million tonnes in 2018-19 to 230.6 million tonnes in 2022-23, with top-producing states being Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.