Drought, fodder crisis push Latur farmers to cut sugarcane for cattle
Farmers in drought-hit Latur district of Maharashtra are harvesting standing sugarcane to feed cattle amid a severe fodder crisis, as poor rainfall dries up grazing lands and green fodder reserves. The state government has declared drought in 265 of 358 talukas, or 74 per cent of the state, announcing crop loan restructuring, land revenue concessions and power bill subsidies. Narayan Gude of Kavha village told PTI his cattle need nearly half a tonne of sugarcane daily, while milk yields have fallen to 10-12 litres a day.