The mini kits will contain seeds hat can yield fodder within 60 days when sown.
| Photo Credit: File photo
Predicting a shortage of cattle fodder, due to deficient rain across the State and no water provided to farmers from reservoirs for cultivation purposes, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Department has submitted a proposal to the State government to provide mini fodder kits worth ₹25 lakh.A senior official from the department said: “Though the government is yet to notify drought, we want to ensure that farmers involved in dairy farming don’t face issues due to shortage of fodder. Hence, we have submitted a proposal to the State government for the mini kits.”Elaborating on what the kit includes, the official told The Hindu: “There are seeds that can yield fodder within 60 days when sown. Whenever, there are good rains in the State, farmers are not given any such kits because fodder is grown in the fields and the crop residue left after harvesting of crops is also fed to cattle. However, this year, farmers are unable to cultivate crops or fodder owing to deficient rain and no water let from reservoirs. A similar situation existed in many districts in 2023 and our department had provided mini kits to farmers then too.”“As per estimates and communication with farmers in the State, we have dry fodder left for the next four months. But, there is shortage of green fodder (green grass and leaves), which add nutritional value to the diet of cows,” the official said.KMF’s role in providing seedsThe Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) supports dairy farmers by providing high-yield dairy fodder at subsidised prices and planting slips through District Milk Unions working across all the districts.Explaining about the planting slips, a senior official from KMF, said: “We provide Super Napier stems to farmers. Even if a smaller number of stems are planted in small areas, the green fodder grows at a high rate and the yield is equally good. The grass grows upto 15 ft in 37 days and multiplies quickly. Though it requires regular watering, its deep root system makes it drought tolerant than traditional napier grass. Those who cannot grow their own fodder buy from these farmers.”He said: “We provide 50% funds for fodder seeds to all the 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.”Further, milk unions also provide silage at subsidised rates to farmers whose farms are not rainfed and dependent on water from borewells. Farmers demand waterJayachandra Sharma, a dairy farmer from Tumakuru, said: “I have around 40 cows and the fodder stock available at my storehouse is 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.” Published - August 22, 2026 08:43 pm IST
