Several regions in the State have been facing a prolonged dry spell, causing extensive crop loss and forcing farmers to incur heavy losses. According to the State Agriculture Department, rainfall has remained absent for over 20 days in at least 83 talukas across 20 districts. At least six districts, including Amravati, Solapur and Latur, have recorded rainfall deficit of 40-50%.
This poses a serious concerns over food and cash crop output as the state of Maharashtra is either the top or the second largest of sugarcane, soybean and cotton in the country, and a major producer of fruits and vegetables.
Divya Kumar Gulati, Chairman of Compound Livestock Feed Manufacturers Association of India (CLFMA of India) shares his thoughts below.
“The emerging drought-like situation in Maharashtra is a concern not only for farmers but for the wider livestock value chain. The impact on crops such as maize and soybean could have a direct bearing on the availability and prices of key feed ingredients in the coming season. Maharashtra is an important agricultural state, and any significant reduction in maize and soybean output can tighten feed raw material supplies and increase input costs for poultry, dairy and other livestock segments. For the livestock sector, feed availability is closely linked to production stability and farm economics. If feed ingredients become scarce or significantly more expensive, the pressure ultimately moves through the value chain, from farmers and producers to the prices of milk, eggs and meat. This can affect both the viability of livestock producers and the affordability of animal protein for consumers. It is therefore important that the situation is assessed comprehensively and that timely measures are taken to safeguard the availability of feed raw materials in the coming season. Ensuring adequate supplies of maize and soybean, along with supporting affected farmers and strengthening supply-chain preparedness, will be critical to preventing a temporary agricultural shock from translating into wider feed and food inflation.”