Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh is facing a worsening fodder crisis as El Niño conditions intensify, with reduced rainfall and prolonged dry conditions putting pressure on fodder availability for dairy animals. The situation is raising concerns for dairy farmers because inadequate and costly feed can directly affect animal health, milk production and farm profitability.
The impact is particularly significant for a dairy economy where milk production depends heavily on reliable supplies of green fodder, dry fodder and other feed resources. Farmers in Chittoor have previously reported that heat stress and inadequate fodder availability can increase production costs while reducing animals’ feed intake and milk yield.
The wider climate situation is adding to the pressure. The India Meteorological Department has said that El Niño conditions have strengthened, with September 2026 rainfall expected to be below 91% of the long-period average; August rainfall was already 16% below normal nationally.
For the dairy sector, the concern goes beyond immediate fodder availability. Lower rainfall can reduce pasture growth and fodder-crop yields while also affecting crop residues used as livestock feed, potentially pushing up feed costs and creating further pressure on milk yields and farmer margins.
The Chittoor situation highlights a broader challenge for Indian dairying: fodder security is becoming as important as milk procurement and animal productivity. Building local fodder reserves, promoting drought-resilient fodder crops and strengthening farmer support systems could become increasingly important as climate variability intensifies.
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