Maharashtra Launches Mission Murghas with Rs 76.41 Crore to Preserve Green Fodder as Silage Through the Drought

24 October 2026National

Maharashtra's Animal Husbandry Department launched Mission Murghas on 24 October 2026 to secure livestock fodder through the state's severe drought by scientifically preserving green fodder as silage ('murghas' in Marathi). The government approved an additional Rs 76.41 crore - Rs 66.41 crore under the District Annual Plan and Rs 10 crore under the Vidarbha-Marathwada Dairy Development Project - over and above Rs 51.20 crore already allocated for the 2026-27 kharif season. Animal Husbandry Commissioner Kiran Patil said it aims to prevent fodder shortages, protect livestock health and sustain milk output. Drought had been declared in 305 of Maharashtra's 358 talukas by 14 October 2026.

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Maharashtra has 36 districts and 358 talukas; Mumbai is its capital and Nagpur the winter capital | Maharashtra's Fodder Development Policy, cleared on 29 September 2026, targets adding 331.42 thousand hectares under fodder over five years | India has been the world's largest milk producer since 1998; the National Dairy Development Board is headquartered at Anand, Gujarat

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