Karnataka proposes mini fodder kits as rain deficiency hits dairy farmers

Karnataka's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department has submitted a proposal to the state government to provide mini fodder kits worth Rs 25 lakh to dairy farmers, anticipating a shortage of cattle fodder due to deficient rainfall and no water release from reservoirs for cultivation. The kits contain seeds that can yield fodder within 60 days of sowing, the department said.

A senior official noted that while the government has not yet declared a drought, the kits aim to prevent issues for dairy farmers. A similar initiative was undertaken in 2023 when many districts faced comparable conditions. The department estimates that dry fodder is available for the next four months, but green fodder, essential for cattle nutrition, is in short supply.

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) provides high-yield dairy fodder at subsidised prices and Super Napier stems, which grow up to 15 ft in 37 days and are drought-tolerant. KMF covers 50% of fodder seed costs, with district milk unions bearing the rest. Farmers like Jayachandra Sharma from Tumakuru, who has 40 cows and fodder for two months, urged the government to release water into canals for growing fodder.