📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Home Affairs
Agriculture
Nanded District Bans Industrial Use of Crop Residues Over Drought‑Driven Fodder Shortage
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 09:17 PM
👁 12
The Nanded district administration in Maharashtra has ordered a halt to the industrial processing of crop residues, citing severe drought and rising fodder scarcity for livestock.
Nanded district officials announced on Monday that all industrial activities involving the collection and processing of agricultural crop residues will be suspended until further notice. The directive comes as the region grapples with an extended dry spell that has depleted water tables and reduced pasture availability for cattle.
The administration warned that diverting residues to factories for bio‑fuel or paper production would exacerbate the fodder shortage, leaving farmers with insufficient feed for their livestock. Local dairy cooperatives have already reported a decline in milk yields linked to the lack of green fodder.
Authorities have urged farmers to retain straw and husk in their fields or use it for traditional cattle feed. The district will monitor compliance and may impose penalties on entities that violate the order. The move aligns with state‑wide efforts to mitigate the impact of the drought on the agrarian economy.
The decision also reflects concerns raised by agricultural extension officers, who highlighted that excessive removal of residues can degrade soil health and increase erosion, further threatening crop productivity in the coming seasons.
The administration warned that diverting residues to factories for bio‑fuel or paper production would exacerbate the fodder shortage, leaving farmers with insufficient feed for their livestock. Local dairy cooperatives have already reported a decline in milk yields linked to the lack of green fodder.
Authorities have urged farmers to retain straw and husk in their fields or use it for traditional cattle feed. The district will monitor compliance and may impose penalties on entities that violate the order. The move aligns with state‑wide efforts to mitigate the impact of the drought on the agrarian economy.
The decision also reflects concerns raised by agricultural extension officers, who highlighted that excessive removal of residues can degrade soil health and increase erosion, further threatening crop productivity in the coming seasons.