Hay Prices Nearly Double in Tamil Nadu Amid Supply Crunch

Tamil Nadu’s livestock farmers are facing a sharp increase in hay prices, with the shortage directly affecting milk production. Hay is currently selling at around ₹300 per 10 kg in several southern districts and ₹320 for 10 kg in Dharmapuri, as scanty rainfall, prolonged heat and declining fodder availability squeeze supplies.

In Dharmapuri, farmer P. Murali said the lack of rainfall since last November has dried pasture grass and caused maize production to drop alarmingly, increasing demand for hay. The price has risen to ₹320 per bale of about 10–12 kg, compared with ₹180 around six months ago and ₹120 a year ago.

The increase is also being felt in local markets. In Nallampalli, hay prices rose from ₹26 to ₹30 per kg within one week, with traders attributing the increase partly to higher transportation costs as supplies are brought from Tiruvannamalai, Erode and Villupuram.

Supply constraints are becoming more pronounced as hay availability from Dindigul and Tiruppur has stopped, forcing farmers to source supplies from the Delta region at around ₹290 per 10 kg. Agents have warned that prices could cross ₹300 per 10 kg within a few days.

Farmers in Dharmapuri have urged the district administration to stock hay and provide it at subsidised rates. However, officials from the Animal Husbandry Department said they had not received reports or complaints about a hay shortage at the time of the report. (

The situation highlights a critical pressure point for Tamil Nadu’s dairy sector: higher milk returns do not necessarily translate into better farmer margins when feed costs surge. With fodder availability closely linked to livestock health and milk production, strengthening local fodder production and supply resilience remains essential for protecting dairy farmer incomes and maintaining milk availability.

Source: Dairynews7x7 24 Aug, 2026 Read full story here

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