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Fodder crisis in India: The reality of the promise of central govt

Fodder crisis in India; The central government was aware of the crisis arising out of the shortage of fodder in the country at least two years

By Ground report 04 Oct 2022

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Fodder crisis in India: The reality of the promise of central govt

The central government was aware of the crisis arising out of the shortage of fodder in the country at least two years ago and a blueprint was prepared for the government to meet this shortage, but the government's preparations for these preparations were on the ground. The reality is something else.

The crisis is still having an adverse effect on the families of farmers.

The steps taken by the central government included setting up about 100 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for fodder by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), but not a single such FPO has been registered so far.

According to the Indian Express report, the proposal to set up 100 FPOs, especially for fodder was prepared by the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in September 2020. This was a part of the government's ambitious plan to create 10,000 FPOs announced in Budget 2019-20, soon after the BJP-led NDA government returned to power in May 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also formally launched this scheme in Chitrakoot on February 29, 2020.

But as per the information available with the Union Agriculture Ministry, till August 16 this year, 8,416 FPOs were allotted to 13 agencies, out of which 3,287 FPOs were registered.

Further, out of 26 FPOs allotted to NDDB, only one has been registered till August 16, 2022. Ministry sources told the newspaper that this FPO under NDDB is also for honey and not fodder.

The FPO scheme - Formation and promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) - has a total budget outlay of Rs 6,865 crore: Rs 4,496 crore for five years, i.e. 2019-20 to 2023-24, and a committed liability of Rs 2,369 crore over four years from 2024-25.

Indian Express citing government sources said that 'FPO in the dairy sector' was one of the agenda items discussed at the fourth meeting of the National Project Management and Fund Sanction Advisory Committee chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture on September 28, 2020. The Department of Livestock and Dairy Development (DAHD) has decided to prepare and submit a proposal to provide financial assistance to 100 FPOs linked to dairy farmers. But then the project was delayed.