Fodder shortage, drought haunt TN livestock

Chennai: The free fodder scheme unveiled by the state to help the cattle population since 2011 has been failing this year due to severe drought. The non-availability of water in western districts has affected TN livestock population and the milk production is likely to be affected for the fiscal 2016-17, confirmed informed officials attached to the state animal husbandry department. “This year the state had allocated Rs 25 crore for the fodder augmentation, but where is the water to grow the fodder crops. In some cases, through bore wells, the fodder was raised, but again quality is an issue”, admitted a government veterinarian based in Erode.

The maximum deaths of cattle due to drought are expected from western and delta districts. Though we are yet to get the final figures, the top brass of the animal husbandry department already sounded an alert last month instructing the district collectors to open fodder banks, the source said adding that the enumeration of cattle deaths due to drought is now under study. Whenever there is drought, it affects fodder supply.

Though the government has been supplying fodder, it will not meet the demand, explains Dr Balaji Murugesan, an independent nutrition advisor on farm animals based in Namakkal.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a huge deficit in rainfall, which is about 60 per cent and the fodder cultivation heavily depends on rain. Though there are central and state government schemes for fodder cultivation, none of them are either effectively implemented or the schemes have the capacity to withstand drought, the veterinarian explains.

Only 4 to 5 percent of Aavin beneficiaries get resources for fodder cultivation at subsidised rates. State Fodder Development Scheme (SFDS), under which Aavin beneficiaries get subsidies for fodder cultivation, was active until last year, but seems to have lost steam this year, he said.

“Because of extreme drought conditions, indigenous local breed of cows, is devoid of fodder. The cattle population of Andhiyur, Erode and Sathyamangalam have been affected badly since the onset of summer. The mortality of bovine had also surged due to a shortage of fodder and water”, said Ms Jeyasudha, member, Universal Consciousness Trust that works for feeding indigenous cow breeds. More support for cattle rearing is the need of the hour and the stringent norms imposed on the local community in grazing cattle in reserve forests is also an issue affecting the cattle population, she added.