Page 11 - Dairy Dimension - Mar-Apr 2025

| Volume 1 | Issue 3 | Mar-Apr 2025 ARTICLE | Volume 1 | Issue 3 | Mar-Apr 2025

hikes, making dairy products unaffordable for low- ease the financial burden on small holders. Fodder Scenario: Fodder scarcity is a serious concern.
income households. This poses a serious food o Education and Extension Services: Farmers need Traditional grasses like sewan and dhaman are used, but
security risk, particularly for children and other access to training, early warning systems, and productivity is limited. To combat scarcity, promoting
vulnerable groups. While the National Dairy information on climate-smart practices and drought-tolerant species such as guar, sorghum, and
Development Board (NDDB) notes a steady rise in sustainable resource management to make fodder bajra is essential. Ensuring a year-round supply of
per capita milk consumption, future climate-related informed decisions. fodder remains a major challenge (Chaudary and Singh
disruptions could reverse this trend. 2019).
Agro-Climatic Zones of Punjab and the Fodder
4. Strategies for Adaptation and Mitigation Scenario Overall Fodder Scenario in Punjab
Addressing climate change impacts on dairy farming Though geographically small, Punjab exhibits diverse As one of India's top dairy-producing states, Punjab
requires a multi-pronged strategy involving improved agro-climatic conditions that significantly impact places strong emphasis on livestock feed availability.
farming practices, animal management, and policy cropping patterns, soil types, and the availability of Despite this focus, the state faces a fodder deficit of the state-wide surplus, underscoring the importance of
support. fodder. The state is divided into three primary agro- approximately 20–25%, especially during lean seasons localized planning and resource allocation.

· Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices climatic zones, each with distinct characteristics and (May–June and December–January). Green Fodder Deficiency: Punjab faces a green fodder
deficit of 28.57%, equivalent to 22.99 million tonnes
o Diversified Feed Sources: Growing drought- fodder-related challenges: Major Fodder Crops: (Tanwar and Verma, 2017).
resistant fodder crops such as Napier grass and 1. Sub-Mountain Undulating Zone · Winter (Rabi): Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) and
sorghum can reduce reliance on rain-sensitive Districts Covered: Parts of Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and oats (Avena sativa) Recommendations to Improve Fodder Security
forages. Rupnagar · Summer (Kharif): Maize, bajra, and jowar · Crop Diversification: Integrate fodder crops into
existing cereal-dominated cropping systems to
o Water Management: Implementing rainwater Topography: Rolling terrain at the base of the Shivalik Several challenges limit consistent fodder ensure balanced land use.
harvesting and water-saving irrigation systems hills availability:
can help secure water for both crops and Soil Type: Light-textured, erosion-prone · Excessive focus on cereal crops like wheat and · Farmer Training: Educate farmers on silage and
livestock. Rainfall: 1000–1200 mm (highest in Punjab) paddy, reducing land for fodder cultivation haymaking to store surplus fodder for periods of

· Improved Animal Management Fodder Scenario: While natural grasses are present, · Declining water table and deteriorating soil health scarcity.
Drought-Resistant Varieties: Develop and promote
o Heat Stress Mitigation: Providing shade, cultivated fodder is limited due to the uneven landscape. · Limited adoption of fodder conservation practices · climate-resilient, high-yield fodder crops tailored for
ventilation, and cooling systems like fans or mist Introducing silvipasture systems (integration of trees and such as silage and haymaking, especially among small arid and semi-arid zones.
sprayers can reduce thermal stress in animals. grasses) and promoting drought-resistant fodder crops holders
· Efficient Irrigation: Encourage water-saving
o Climate-Resilient Breeds: Indigenous cattle can improve productivity in this zone. · Inadequate infrastructure for fodder storage, leading technologies such as drip irrigation and sprinkler
breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, and Kankrej are 2. Central Plain Zone to seasonal shortages and income loss systems to enhance fodder productivity in water-
naturally more heat-tolerant and disease- Districts Covered: Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Addressing these issues requires a strategic stressed regions.
resistant. Chauhan et al. (2020) advocate for Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, and parts of Amritsar and approach:
focused breeding programs to enhance Fatehgarh Sahib · Promote crop rotation that includes fodder crops · Fodder Banks: Establish community-level fodder
resilience. Topography: Flat, fertile plains are ideal for intensive alongside cereals banks to store and distribute feed during critical
shortages and natural calamities.
· Policy and Institutional Support agriculture · Educate farmers on modern conservation techniques Conclusion
o Subsidies and Incentives: Government support Soil Type: Rich alluvial soils · Develop and distribute high-yielding, drought- Climate change poses a significant threat to India's dairy
for climate-resilient technologies and inputs can Rainfall: 700–1000 mm resistant fodder varieties industry—impacting livestock health, reducing feed

Fodder Scenario: This zone is the most suitable for · Enhance infrastructure for fodder storage and availability, and undermining farm profitability. In
fodder cultivation. Major fodder crops include berseem, preservation (e.g., silos, hay barns) Punjab, where dairy farming plays a vital role in rural
maize, bajra, jowar, and oats. Due to abundant irrigation Fodder Availability and Deficit in Punjab livelihoods and the state economy, the dual challenges
and fertile soils, dairy farming is highly concentrated Punjab's livestock population is approximately 5.85 of climate variability and fodder scarcity demand
here. million Adult Cattle Units (ACUs), which collectively immediate and sustained attention.
3. South-Western Dry Zone require about 14.94 million tonnes of feed and fodder Adopting climate-smart practices, promoting resilient
Districts Covered: Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar, annually. The estimated annual availability stands at livestock breeds, and providing institutional support are
and parts of Ferozepur and Faridkot 24.24 million tonnes, suggesting an overall surplus of essential to safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of
Topography: Arid to semi-arid with salinity and water 62.18%. However, this apparent surplus overlooks smallholder dairy farmers. Building fodder security
logging issues critical regional shortages in fodder availability. through better crop management, conservation, and
Soil Type: Sandy loam to loamy; often saline District-Level Variations: Regions such as Amritsar and infrastructure will be key to ensuring a stable supply of
Rainfall: 300–500 mm (lowest in Punjab) SAS Nagar experience notable fodder shortages despite milk and nutrition for India's growing population.
References are available upon request

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