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Picture Courtesy:  Down to Earth

Context:

India, the world’s largest milk producer with nearly 24% of global milk output, is facing a serious fodder and feed shortage that threatens its dairy sector’s sustainability. Despite this leadership, the average milk yield per animal remains much lower than global standards, mainly due to poor livestock nutrition. 

Current Status of Fodder deficit:

• According to a reply in Parliament in July 2025, India is facing a deficit of 24 – 32 % in green fodder and about 23 % in dry fodder. (Source: Down to Earth) 

• More comprehensive estimates suggest a net shortfall of 35.6 % in green fodder, 5 % in dry crop residues, and 44 % in concentrate feed ingredients. (Source: Research Gate) 

• The requirement of green fodder was reported at 827.19 million tonnes while availability was 734.219 million tonnes, implying a deficit of about 24 % for green fodder. (Source: dahd.gov.in)

State-wise data on fodder gaps:

What is fodder?

Fodder refers to food given to domesticated livestock, especially cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats. It includes cultivated or naturally grown plants that are cut and fed to animals, unlike grazing where animals feed directly on pastures.

Types of Fodder:

Green Fodder

• Fresh plants such as maize, berseem, sorghum, napier grass, and lucerne.
• Rich in moisture, protein, and vitamins.
• Improves milk yield and animal health.

Dry Fodder

• Dried crop residues like wheat straw, paddy straw, and groundnut haulms.
• Used during lean or dry seasons when green fodder is unavailable.

Concentrated Feed

• High-nutrient supplements such as oil cakes, grains, pulses, and bran.
• Provide protein, minerals, and energy to balance the diet. 

Importance of Fodder:

• Ensures nutritional security of livestock.
• Directly influences milk yield, fertility, and immunity.
• Supports rural livelihoods, as over 80 million Indian households depend on livestock.
• Contributes to soil fertility through organic manure recycling. 

Evolution of Fodder:

Challenges:

• Supply-Demand Gap: India faces a green fodder shortfall of 24% to 32%, and a dry fodder deficit of 23%, according to the government. 

• Land and Cultivation Constraints: Fodder crops are grown on only about 4% of cultivated area, and this share has remained stagnant for decades.
• Seed, Technology & Input Issues: Poor availability of certified fodder seeds: deficits of 56% for sorghum/bajra, 50% for maize, 52% for berseem in certain regions. 

• Climatic and Environmental Stress: Fodder production is vulnerability to droughts, erratic monsoons, heat stress which reduce yields of crops like maize, berseem. 

• Economic & Livelihood Impact: For small dairy farmers, even a small drop in feed quality or quantity → significant milk yield loss → reduced income and livelihood stress. 

Government measures for Fodder:

 Way Forward:

• Dedicated Fodder Zones: Develop village-level “Green Fodder Clusters” on common lands and under-utilized farms. This approach can optimize land use and reduce the current fodder deficit of 11–32%, ensuring consistent supply for livestock. (Source: The Hindu)
• Climate-Resilient Varieties: Promote multi-cut, drought- and heat-tolerant fodder crops, such as Napier hybrids, Bajra-Sorghum, and COFS-29. These varieties can increase fodder yield by 30–40% even under rain-fed conditions, helping mitigate climate risks. (Source: IE) 

• Integration with Cropping Systems: Introduce fodder-based crop rotation and intercropping with pulses or oilseeds. This ensures year-round fodder availability, improves soil fertility, and makes cultivation more sustainable. (Source: The Hindu) 

• Technology and Digital Monitoring: Use AI, GIS, and remote sensing to map fodder-deficit regions and enable predictive planning. Pilot studies show this can improve fodder planning efficiency by 10–12%. (Source: IE)  

• Silage and Hydroponics: Train farmers in silage-making, hydroponics, and azolla cultivation. These techniques provide off-season fodder, reduce feed costs by up to 20%, and improve livestock nutrition. (Source: The Hindu) 

• Public–Private Partnerships: Engage cooperatives and private dairy firms in contract fodder farming. This strengthens supply chains, ensures timely fodder availability, and can enhance production efficiency by 15–20%. (Source: Down to Earth) 

• Research and Capacity Building: Strengthen fodder R&D through ICAR and state agricultural universities. Establish fodder research clusters and extension programs to boost cultivation. This can help meet up to 80% of feed demand by 2047. (Source: The Hindu) 

Source: Down to Earth