Nagpur district has enough fodder to feed its livestock for an estimated 260 to 270 days, but the administration has begun village-level planning to prevent shortages if drought-like conditions intensify in the coming months. District collector Kumar Ashirwad has ordered officials to map livestock, identify vulnerable villages, expand fodder cultivation and prepare emergency storage facilities.
The directions were issued during a fodder scarcity review meeting at the collectorate on Wednesday. The administration said the exercise would focus on ensuring that livestock owners have continued access to fodder and water, while also developing longer-term arrangements to reduce the risk of scarcity.
Tehsildars have been asked to identify revenue land, fallow plots, grazing grounds and revenue wasteland that could be used for fodder cultivation. The water resources, conservation and minor irrigation departments must submit village-wise details of reservoir drawdown areas that can be brought under cultivation by the end of December.
Taluka agriculture officers will identify farmers and livestock owners willing to grow fodder on the available land. The administration is also considering additional financial support for fodder seeds. Ashirwad said proposals from farmer groups and women’s self-help groups could be considered for funding through the District Planning Committee, in addition to the existing individual-beneficiary scheme.
The district will also prepare village-wise data on livestock populations, current fodder stocks and locations that could face scarcity. This mapping is intended to identify potential gaps before they become an emergency, rather than relying only on district-wide stock estimates.
Storage is another part of the preparedness plan. Government departments have been instructed to identify warehouses and other suitable locations where dry and green fodder can be preserved. These facilities could support emergency procurement if local supplies become inadequate.
Taluka officials have been directed to coordinate with representatives of 173 institutions across the district on fodder availability, seed distribution and awareness initiatives. The concerned officials must complete joint meetings and finalise the required information and action plans by Friday evening.
The collector also ordered village-wise water scarcity plans alongside the fodder exercise. Officials have been asked to prioritise repairs to check dams and borewells and conduct field inspections with sarpanches and gram panchayat members. Photographs and videos of field visits are to be documented so residents can be informed about preventive works.
The administration’s plan links livestock protection to water management, land availability and local storage capacity. Its immediate objective is to ensure that fodder and water arrangements are in place before any intensification of drought-like conditions affects livestock owners across Nagpur district.
