THOOTHUKUDI: Amid the threat of El Nino, cattle owners, especially those rearing cows and buffaloes, have been advised by animal husbandry officials to keep sufficient stock of green fodder so as to meet the demands next summer season.
They have been advised not to sell hay and other fodder crops for industrial purposes.
The state government had floated a subsidy scheme for growing green fodder crops on 160 acres in Thoothukudi district in view of the forecast of El Nino, which can heighten the risk of droughts and wildfire.
El Niño is a natural weather pattern driven by an unusual warming of the sea surface temperatures (SST) across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is expected to bring extreme weather to many parts of the world.
Large cattle like cows and buffaloes require both green and dry fodders to maintain a balanced diet. The green fodders include maize, sorghum, cumbu and lucerne (alfalfa), while the dry fodders include paddy straw, dried maize stalks, sorghum and the like.
According to a recent assessment by the animal husbandry officials, Thoothukudi district has 1.2 lakh cattle, including cows and buffaloes, in 12 blocks. They require 97,000 tonnes of green fodder; however, there is a deficit of 27,000 tonnes. While they require 32,000 tonnes of dry fodder, only 30,000 tonnes is available, a deficiency of 2,000 tonnes, said senior officials.
Speaking to TNIE, Dr Vijayakumar, Joint Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, said that the El Nino years are characterised by erratic rainfall patterns, often marked by long dry spells followed by intense downpours. Large cattle, including cows and buffaloes, are likely to bear the brunt of the El Niño effect during the long dry spells, he said.
Temperature could rise unprecedentedly between January and August, which could usher in a fodder crisis. Hence, cattle farmers must ensure sufficient stock of green fodder, he said.
The animal husbandry official noted that paddy straw and hay have a relatively good market in industrial applications mainly for packaging ceramic products and other appliances to avoid breakage.
Also, hay is procured for mushroom cultivation, composting, mulching and bioenergy, he said.
Selling hay, paddy straw and other fodders for industrial purposes shall be avoided in view of the El Niño, he pointed out. To alleviate the catastrophic situation, the state government had also launched a subsidy scheme for fodder cultivation of chief fodder crops like sorghum, CO4, CFS20, and lucerne.
Accordingly, a farmer can avail a subsidy of Rs 1,750 for 25 cents of water-available land in the 2026-27 financial year, he said, and added that the scheme targets 160 acres of fodder cultivation.
If fodder crops are cultivated during this northeast monsoon season, they can be harvested three months later, so that they can meet the requirements in the hot summer of 2027, Dr Vijayakumar advised.
Interested farmers can approach nearby veterinary dispensaries with relevant documents to avail benefits under the scheme, he added.
