Centre asks States to use Rs 292 crores funds for fodder development and immediately prepare an action plan for this purpose

Centre to coordinate movement of fodder for surplus area to deficient areas with Railways

Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Devendra Chaudhry along with the Principal Secretaries of Animal Husbandry of all the States/ UTs took important decisions as:

i) 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.

ii) 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.

iii) Fodder can be moved from surplus areas to the shortage areas and DAHDF would coordinate with the Ministry of Railways for transport of such fodder as may be required from surplus to the deficient States on payment basis to the Railways.

Secretary urged for an Action Plan may be made for the DAHDF Component for all these activities as above. He asked them to submit the utilization certificates of the funds released during previous years and submit the proposals for the current year by 15th May, 2016. The next video conference will be held on 19th May, 2016 as a follow up and to take up new issues.

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