(a) As per the latest report furnished by Directorate of Economics and Statistics Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare in their Land Use Statistics at Glance, the percentage of fodder crops cultivation in the country stagnates between 4-5% of the total cropped area during the year 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14.
Area under Fodder crops in the country during 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14
(Thousand ha)
Year Total cropped area Area under fodder crops % of fodder crops under cultivation
2011-12 195694 7806 3.98
2012-13 194140 9249 4.76
2013-14 200859 9851 4.89
(b) As per the latest Livestock Censuses 2012, the total livestock population in the country declined from 529.70 Million in 2007 to 512.06 Million in 2012. The Livestock Census is conducted after every five years across the country. The total population of livestock reported in last four census are given below:
(In Million Nos)
Year 1997 2002 2007 2012
Total Livestock 485.39 485.00 529.70 512.06
As per the latest report furnished by Directorate of Economics & Statistics Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare in their Land Use Statistics , there is marginal decrease in the total permanent pasture and other grazing land in the country from 10,311 Thousand Ha in 2011-12 to 10, 256 Thousand Ha in 2013-14. Reasons for gradual decrease in area under pasture land across the States are that the majority of these lands have either been diverted for other agriculture purposes or encroached upon restricting availability for livestock grazing.The responsibility to safeguard against encroachment of land lies with the State governments.
State wise area under pasture & other grazing land in the country are given in Annexure-I.
It is difficult to further increase the cropping area under fodder cultivation due to more importance to the agricultural foodgrain /commercial crops.
(c) As per the design of NLM, projects are received from the States. Further as per budget provided in the beginning of the financial year, a tentative allocation of funds is made to all States and UTs. The States and UTs are asked to submit the proposals after approval of the State Level Sanctioning Committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the State as per the Guidelines. The proposals are examined within the Department and are further approved by the Executive Committee headed by the Secretary, ADF. Most of the States/UTs utilise funds timely. The utilization is ensured by holding meetings with the States/UTs, video conferencing, inspection visits etc.
(d) Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF), Government of India has already taken necessary steps to increase fodder production in various parts of the country by providing financial assistance to the farmers/ Co-operatives through the States/UTs under Centrally Sponsored National Livestock Mission with a Sub Mission on Feed and Fodder Development under the following components.
S. No. Name of the Components
1. Fodder Production from Non-forest wasteland/rangeland/grassland/non-arable land
2. Fodder production from Forest land
3. Fodder Seed Procurement/ Production & Distribution
4. Introduction of Hand Driven Chaff-Cutter
5. 5. Introduction of Power Driven Chaff-Cutter
6. 6. Distribution of low capacity, tractor mountable Fodder Block Making units, hay baling machines/reapers/forage harvesters
7. 7. Establishment of silage making Units
8. 8. Establishment of by-pass protein production units
9. 9. Establishment of Area Specific Mineral Mixture / Feed Pelleting/ Feed Manufacturing Unit.
10. 10. Establishment/modernization of Feed Testing Laboratories
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