Baramati: In a region where farmers either work in the fields or breed cows, milk production is the indicator for the impact of the drought on the latter section. Many dairy farmers in Baramati’s so-called dry zone have sold their cows in the absence of enough water to feed them but, because of the complexity of the equations involved, supply does not reflect whatever effect that has had on production.

Baramati is divided 40:60 between the green zone of agriculture and the dry zone where water is always short and where dairy farming is the primary source of livelihood.

Bangalore: Power struggle, politicking and blame game are keeping state BJP leaders busy. And there is no one to pay attention to the problems faced by drought-hit people in the districts. The chief minister, his colleagues and party legislators should have been helping out people of 123 drought-affected taluks. Instead, they have camped in New Delhi and Bangalore and are happily engaged in mudslinging and power-grabbing.

Patna: Bihar government has launched five schemes under fodder development project to provide adequate fodder for the cattle in Bihar, state Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh said today. Replying to short notice questions by RJD MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav and others in the legislative council, Singh said the schemes were grassland development, fodder seed procurement and distribution, accelerated fodder development, fodder seed minikit distribution and fodder bank.

Andhra Pradesh will request a Central assistance of Rs 3,006 crore towards drought relief according to the revised norms, the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, has said.

While seeking liberal assistance, the Chief Minister told a nine-member Central team that the State would send a revised request soon. The team had visited the affected districts and met the Chief Minister and various Government officials today at the Secretariat.

He also said the State Government sought Rs 120 a quintal as bonus towards MSP for foodgrains.

More than 800 villages in the districts of Satara and Sangli were officially declared scarcity-hit by the state government following severe shortage of water and fodder. New divisional commissioner, Prabhakar Deshmukh, made the announcement to the media in the city on Wednesday. According to Deshmukh, the failure of winter monsoon has brought about this situation.

“In view of the serious issue, the Union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar, had called for a special meeting of revenue, agriculture and irrigation departments to come up with a plan to tackle the situation,” he said.