The model is open to any farmer with assured irrigation during the rabi period
Under the initiative, farmers receive nearly Rs 1.21 lakh per acre, including Rs 84,956 for wages and Rs 36,859 for fertilisers and other material,” Bastewad said. Mahabeej’s ‘Speed Feed’ jowar delivers its first harvest within 55-60 days of sowing. In an Oct 23 letter, the soil and water conservation department sanctioned cost estimates for fodder cultivation under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) for 2026-27, based on Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur, recommendations. It approved a model expenditure of Rs 1.21 lakh for 0.40 hectare of fodder cultivation on farmers’ land. The estimates project 268 days of employment per hectare while increasing fodder output and farmer incomes.
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He said, “High-quality seeds are provided free under the district annual plan, so farmers don’t have to spend anything. “Farmers can earn up to Rs 1.5 lakh per acre through the sale of green fodder, with govt support covering activities from land preparation to harvesting,” the collector, who is the former commissioner of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), said. “The response has been overwhelming, with nearly 20,000 farmers in Latur registering interest in the programme,” the official said.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: After revolutionising education with the famed ‘Latur Pattern’, the district has now offered Maharashtra a new template for drought resilience and farm income generation, approved by govt for rollout across the state. Conceptualised by Latur collector Bharat Bastewad, the model combines wage support under Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) with free high-quality fodder seed supplied through the district annual plan. The aim is to ensure fodder availability while guaranteeing income for farmers during drought conditions. “The model is straightforward. Govt invests and farmers earn, with no out-of-pocket cost to cultivators. Fast returns are driven by the crop choice. The district has selected Mahabeej’s ‘Speed Feed’ jowar, a fodder-only variety grown for green fodder and not grain. The crop regenerates twice more, allowing three fodder cuttings from a single sowing within four months. The model is open to any farmer with assured irrigation during the rabi period (Nov-Jan), regardless of whether they own livestock. Farmers may either use the fodder for their own animals or sell it in the market, creating an additional income stream while addressing fodder shortages. Download the TOI App.