In meet with Centre, states flag high dry fodder prices

Written by Harikishan Sharma

New Delhi | Updated: October 7, 2022 05:27 AM IST

3 min read

Sources said that during the meeting, the states said there is no “shortage” of fodder but prices were “elevated”. (File)

The government on Thursday held a meeting to take stock of the fodder situation in the county, in which the states informed the Centre that prices of dry fodder are significantly higher than last year’s, it is learnt.

The meeting, chaired by Animal Husbandry Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, was attended by senior central government officials, including those from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and representatives of at least 14 states. The states included Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Also Read | Govt saw fodder crisis coming over two years ago, but plans remained on paper

Senior officials from ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, also participated in the meeting, which was held via video conference.

Sources said that during the meeting, the states said there is no “shortage” of fodder but prices were “elevated”.

Also Read | On fodder shortage, policy makers must look beyond the short term

“During the meeting, the states informed that the dry fodder prices have increased from the level of Rs 5-6 per kg last year to Rs 8 to 14 per kg this year. They said that dry fodder prices are higher this year but it is available… There is no shortage of fodder as of now,” said a source.

The source said the Centre has offered the states that it will facilitate transport of the total mixed ration (TMR), which is made of basmati straw in Punjab and Haryana, to regions wherever there is a fodder shortage. The Centre will also formulate a plan to deal with future exigency, the source said.

Also Read | Fodder inflation at 9-yr high, late rains, crop damage deepen crisis

The meeting comes days after The Indian Express highlighted that the fodder inflation has reached at nine-year high (25.54 per cent) in August 2022 and rural households in the country were facing hardships due to high prices of dry fodder. It also highlighted that the government’s plans to create 100 fodder Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs) remain on papers till date.

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Meanwhile, sources say Agriculture Ministry officials verbally conveyed to their counterparts in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoAHD) that their 2020 proposal to create 100 FPO will be cleared on October 10.

Harikishan Sharma

Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister’s Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

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