Centre asks States to use Rs 292 crores funds for Fodder Development

Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Devendra Chaudhry today here held a video conference with the Principal Secretaries of Animal Husbandry of all the States/ UTs. Important decision taken:

Allocation of Rs. 292 crores of funds under the National Livestock Mission to various States/UTs. Use of these funds can be immediately made for taking up fodder development (growth and cultivation related activities) for which the NLM Action Plan (NAP) need to be prepared immediately so that the same is useful for ensuring fodder availability for the animals should the rainfall be deficient especially in States where there is already a shortage of fodder such as in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Telengana, Madhya Pradesh etc.

Rs.100 crores have been separately allocated under the Rashtriya Kisan Vikas Yojana (RKVY) under the sub-scheme of Fodder Development Programme under which assistance of up to Rs.3,200/- is provided per hectare (for a maximum up to 2 hectares) for fodder development in drought affected areas. Both these schemes NLM and RKVY can be dovetailed with MNREGA and an Integrated Plan inter alia be made.