Maharashtra launches silage subsidy to support drought-hit dairy farmers

INDIA – Maharashtra has launched a targeted silage subsidy programme to help dairy farmers in drought-affected regions maintain livestock nutrition, manage feed expenses and protect milk production.

The initiative, known as Mission Murghas under the Magel Tyala Murghas scheme, aims to improve access to preserved green fodder across Marathwada and Vidarbha, where water scarcity and limited fodder availability have challenged livestock owners.

Under the programme, eligible milk producers and livestock owners across 19 districts can receive a subsidy of ₹3 per kilogram of purchased silage. The assistance is calculated against a provision of five kilograms per animal per day for 90 days.

The initiative comes as Maharashtra addresses drought conditions declared across 305 talukas, highlighting the importance of reliable animal feed supplies for sustaining the state’s dairy industry.

Fodder shortages are a significant concern for dairy farmers during periods of inadequate rainfall.

Reduced green fodder availability can force livestock owners to depend on purchased feed, increasing operating expenses and potentially affecting animal health and milk yields.

Mission Murghas aims to ease this pressure by encouraging the use of silage, a preserved feed produced through the controlled fermentation of green fodder under airtight conditions. Maize, sorghum and Napier grass are among the crops suitable for silage preparation.

When prepared and stored correctly, silage can provide livestock with a more dependable source of feed when fresh fodder and grazing resources become scarce.

The subsidy is intended to make this alternative more accessible to farmers who might otherwise struggle with the cost of maintaining adequate cattle nutrition.

According to the reported programme details, the assistance will cover eligible purchases within the specified daily quantity and 90-day period.

The actual benefit available to individual farmers will depend on their eligibility, the number of animals covered and the applicable implementation rules.

Additional Funding Strengthens Fodder Development

The Maharashtra government has approved an additional ₹76.41 crore for fodder cultivation and silage production under the wider dairy development initiative.

This allocation is separate from ₹51.20 crore previously earmarked for fodder-seed distribution during the 2026–27 kharif season and for the dairy development project.

The programme forms part of the second phase of the Vidarbha-Marathwada Dairy Development Project, implemented in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

Implementation will involve animal husbandry officials, dairy cooperatives, milk collection societies, silage producers, women’s self-help groups, farmer-producer organisations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

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