Latur, Oct 27 Farmers in Maharashtra’s Latur district can avail financial assistance of up to Rs 1.21 lakh per acre for fodder cultivation under a government scheme as a pilot initiative aimed at boosting fodder availability amid drought concerns, officials said.
Farmers do not need to own livestock to qualify. Those with access to irrigation water during November, December and January can apply. They can use the harvested fodder for their own cattle or sell it to livestock owners in the district, a release from the administration on Monday said.
Farmers will not have to bear any cultivation expenses under the initiative. Mahabeej (a state-owned public enterprise) will provide high-quality ‘Speedfeed’ fodder sorghum seeds free of cost through the district’s annual plan, it said.
The administration has urged farmers with irrigation facilities to participate in the programme during the rabi season. The last date to apply online is November 1.
The initiative, conceptualised by Latur collector Bharat Bastewad for fodder cultivation under the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) scheme, has received the state government’s approval, the release said.
The assistance of up to Rs 1,21,815 per acre includes Rs 84,956 towards labour and Rs 36,859 for seeds, fertilisers and other materials. The support covers land preparation, sowing, fertiliser application, irrigation, weeding and harvesting, it said.
The administration said farmers can earn up to Rs 1.5 lakh per acre in four months through fodder sales, while receiving government assistance for cultivation and harvesting.
Eligible farmers can submit online applications through the Google Form link provided by the Animal Husbandry Department on the Latur Zilla Parishad’s official website, the release said.
The Speedfeed sorghum variety produces its first harvest within 55 to 60 days of sowing. Two subsequent harvests can be taken at intervals of 35 to 40 days, providing a total of three cuts of nutritious green fodder. The scheme also provides for labour assistance for all three harvests, it added.
(PTI News)
