‘Magel Tyala Murghas’ offers ₹3 per kg for eligible silage purchases, aiming to support livestock nutrition and milk production across 19 districts.
MAHARASHTRA: The Maharashtra government has introduced Mission Murghas, formally known as Magel Tyala Murghas, to help dairy farmers and livestock owners in drought-affected areas secure fodder supplies and maintain animal nutrition.
Under the scheme, eligible milk producers and livestock owners across 19 districts in Marathwada and Vidarbha can receive a subsidy of ₹3 per kg of purchased silage. The assistance is calculated against a provision of five kilograms per animal per day for 90 days, subject to scheme eligibility and verification requirements.
The initiative comes as fodder availability becomes a growing concern in drought-affected parts of the state. Maharashtra has declared drought in 305 talukas, according to the information provided by the department.
Direct benefit transfer for eligible beneficiaries
The state’s Animal Husbandry Department said the scheme aims to encourage fodder conservation and help farmers maintain livestock feeding during periods of green-fodder scarcity.
Kiran Patil, Maharashtra’s animal husbandry commissioner, said the programme was introduced in response to fodder-related difficulties faced by dairy farmers in drought-affected areas.
Subsidies will be released to approved beneficiaries after they submit proof of silage purchase. Payments are to be transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the direct benefit transfer (DBT) system.
The programme forms part of the second phase of the Vidarbha-Marathwada Dairy Development Project. The state has approved an additional ₹76.41 crore for fodder cultivation and silage production.
This allocation is separate from the ₹51.20 crore already earmarked for fodder-seed distribution during the 2026–27 kharif season and for the dairy development project.
Dairy development and milk procurement network
Maharashtra produced 166.26 lakh metric tonnes of milk in 2024–25, according to the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025–26.
Dairy farming provides supplementary income and employment for rural households, including small and marginal farmers. In Marathwada and Vidarbha, limited fodder availability and inadequate animal nutrition remain challenges to improving milk production.
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The dairy development project is being implemented with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). By February 2025, its procurement network reportedly covered 3,411 villages and included approximately 35,000 milk producers, collecting around 4.5 lakh kg of milk per day.
The silage subsidy is intended to complement these efforts by addressing a key input constraint for livestock owners: access to dependable fodder supplies during shortages.
Silage conservation and farmer training
Silage is produced by fermenting green fodder under sealed, airtight conditions. Crops such as maize, sorghum and Napier grass can be used, depending on availability and suitability.
Properly prepared and stored silage can provide feed when fresh fodder, grazing land or fodder crops are scarce. However, its effectiveness depends on suitable harvesting, chopping, compaction, airtight storage and appropriate feeding practices.
The programme is expected to involve animal husbandry staff, silage producers, dairy cooperatives, milk collection societies, women’s self-help groups, farmer-producer organisations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Village-level demonstrations and training will cover harvesting time, fodder chopping, compaction and storage. District administrations have also been instructed to prepare targets for fodder-seed distribution, cultivation and silage production.
Local availability and timely payments remain important
Farmers in the affected regions have highlighted the link between fodder shortages, rising feed expenditure and pressure on milk yields.
Akshay Mote, a farmer from Dharashiv district, said shortages of green fodder increase feeding costs even when milk production may decline. Uddhav Ghodke, an activist from Beed, said the subsidy would be useful if affordable, good-quality silage were available locally and payments were made on time.
A professor at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Parbhani also highlighted the importance of access to chopping and baling equipment, preservation training, timely supplies and feed-quality monitoring, particularly for small livestock owners.
Implementation will determine the scheme’s impact
The initiative seeks to address fodder scarcity through a combination of purchase assistance, fodder cultivation, silage production and farmer training. Its practical impact will depend on local silage availability, quality, access to equipment and timely reimbursement.
For Maharashtra’s dairy sector, the programme highlights the importance of planning for seasonal fodder shortages alongside milk procurement and production. Reliable feed supplies can support livestock health and help farmers manage the cost pressures associated with drought conditions.
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