India, March 1 -- LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh is facing a serious shortage of green fodder for its livestock, forcing policymakers to plan a strategy to overcome the deficit that threatens livestock productivity and the rural dairy economy.

Of the state's total agricultural area of about 166.84 lakh hectares, barely 2.41 lakh hectares, less than 1.5%, is currently under green fodder cultivation. Even within this limited area, crop concentration remains skewed: sugarcane alone occupies nearly 1.03 lakh hectares, accounting for over 80% of land earmarked for green fodder.

"The imbalance has resulted in a 45% deficit in green fodder, while dry fodder availability remains marginally surplus at around 3%," director (animal husbandry) Mem Pal Singh...