Page 10 - Dairy Dimension - Mar-Apr 2025

| Volume 1 | Issue 3 | Mar-Apr 2025 ARTICLE
hikes, making dairy products unaffordable for low- ease the financial burden on small holders.
income households. This poses a serious food o Education and Extension Services: Farmers need
security risk, particularly for children and other access to training, early warning systems, and
vulnerable groups. While the National Dairy information on climate-smart practices and
Development Board (NDDB) notes a steady rise in sustainable resource management to make
per capita milk consumption, future climate-related informed decisions.
disruptions could reverse this trend.
Agro-Climatic Zones of Punjab and the Fodder
4. Strategies for Adaptation and Mitigation Scenario
Addressing climate change impacts on dairy farming Though geographically small, Punjab exhibits diverse
requires a multi-pronged strategy involving improved agro-climatic conditions that significantly impact
farming practices, animal management, and policy cropping patterns, soil types, and the availability of
support. fodder. The state is divided into three primary agro-
· Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices climatic zones, each with distinct characteristics and
o Diversified Feed Sources: Growing drought- fodder-related challenges:
resistant fodder crops such as Napier grass and 1. Sub-Mountain Undulating Zone
sorghum can reduce reliance on rain-sensitive Districts Covered: Parts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and
forages. Rupnagar
o Water Management: Implementing rainwater Topography: Rolling terrain at the base of the Shivalik
harvesting and water-saving irrigation systems hills
can help secure water for both crops and Soil Type: Light-textured, erosion-prone
livestock. Rainfall: 1000–1200 mm (highest in Punjab)
· Improved Animal Management Fodder Scenario: While natural grasses are present,
o Heat Stress Mitigation: Providing shade, cultivated fodder is limited due to the uneven landscape.
ventilation, and cooling systems like fans or mist Introducing silvipasture systems (integration of trees and
sprayers can reduce thermal stress in animals. grasses) and promoting drought-resistant fodder crops
o Climate-Resilient Breeds: Indigenous cattle can improve productivity in this zone.
breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, and Kankrej are 2. Central Plain Zone
naturally more heat-tolerant and disease- Districts Covered: Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala,
resistant. Chauhan et al. (2020) advocate for Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, and parts of Amritsar and
focused breeding programs to enhance Fatehgarh Sahib
resilience. Topography: Flat, fertile plains are ideal for intensive
· Policy and Institutional Support agriculture
o Subsidies and Incentives: Government support Soil Type: Rich alluvial soils
for climate-resilient technologies and inputs can Rainfall: 700–1000 mm
Fodder Scenario: This zone is the most suitable for
fodder cultivation. Major fodder crops include berseem,
maize, bajra, jowar, and oats. Due to abundant irrigation
and fertile soils, dairy farming is highly concentrated
here.
3. South-Western Dry Zone
Districts Covered: Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar,
and parts of Ferozepur and Faridkot
Topography: Arid to semi-arid with salinity and water
logging issues
Soil Type: Sandy loam to loamy; often saline
Rainfall: 300–500 mm (lowest in Punjab)
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| Volume 1 | Issue 3 | Mar-Apr 2025
Fodder Scenario: Fodder scarcity is a serious concern.
Traditional grasses like sewan and dhaman are used, but
productivity is limited. To combat scarcity, promoting
drought-tolerant species such as guar, sorghum, and
fodder bajra is essential. Ensuring a year-round supply of
fodder remains a major challenge (Chaudary and Singh
2019).
Overall Fodder Scenario in Punjab
As one of India's top dairy-producing states, Punjab
places strong emphasis on livestock feed availability.
Despite this focus, the state faces a fodder deficit of the state-wide surplus, underscoring the importance of
approximately 20–25%, especially during lean seasons localized planning and resource allocation.
(May–June and December–January). Green Fodder Deficiency: Punjab faces a green fodder
deficit of 28.57%, equivalent to 22.99 million tonnes
Major Fodder Crops: (Tanwar and Verma, 2017).
· Winter (Rabi): Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) and
oats (Avena sativa) Recommendations to Improve Fodder Security
· Summer (Kharif): Maize, bajra, and jowar · Crop Diversification: Integrate fodder crops into
existing cereal-dominated cropping systems to
Several challenges limit consistent fodder ensure balanced land use.
availability:
· Excessive focus on cereal crops like wheat and · Farmer Training: Educate farmers on silage and
paddy, reducing land for fodder cultivation haymaking to store surplus fodder for periods of
· Declining water table and deteriorating soil health scarcity.
Drought-Resistant Varieties: Develop and promote
· Limited adoption of fodder conservation practices · climate-resilient, high-yield fodder crops tailored for
such as silage and haymaking, especially among small arid and semi-arid zones.
holders
· Efficient Irrigation: Encourage water-saving
· Inadequate infrastructure for fodder storage, leading technologies such as drip irrigation and sprinkler
to seasonal shortages and income loss systems to enhance fodder productivity in water-
Addressing these issues requires a strategic stressed regions.
approach:
· Promote crop rotation that includes fodder crops · Fodder Banks: Establish community-level fodder
alongside cereals banks to store and distribute feed during critical
shortages and natural calamities.
· Educate farmers on modern conservation techniques Conclusion
· Develop and distribute high-yielding, drought- Climate change poses a significant threat to India's dairy
resistant fodder varieties industry—impacting livestock health, reducing feed
· Enhance infrastructure for fodder storage and availability, and undermining farm profitability. In
preservation (e.g., silos, hay barns) Punjab, where dairy farming plays a vital role in rural
Fodder Availability and Deficit in Punjab livelihoods and the state economy, the dual challenges
Punjab's livestock population is approximately 5.85 of climate variability and fodder scarcity demand
million Adult Cattle Units (ACUs), which collectively immediate and sustained attention.
require about 14.94 million tonnes of feed and fodder Adopting climate-smart practices, promoting resilient
annually. The estimated annual availability stands at livestock breeds, and providing institutional support are
24.24 million tonnes, suggesting an overall surplus of essential to safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of
62.18%. However, this apparent surplus overlooks smallholder dairy farmers. Building fodder security
critical regional shortages in fodder availability. through better crop management, conservation, and
District-Level Variations: Regions such as Amritsar and infrastructure will be key to ensuring a stable supply of
SAS Nagar experience notable fodder shortages despite milk and nutrition for India's growing population.
References are available upon request
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