Since June 19, every morning at 5.30, Sambhaben Solanki, a 60-year-old widow, waits for a bus or chhakda near Vyara village in Baria taluka so that she can reach Devgadh Baria on time and get fodder for her five buffaloes.

But, delayed rain and mismanagement by the state fodder distribution agencies, often compel her to return home empty-handed; she cannot afford to buy fodder from the private players.

Even distribution authorities kept mum for the next two days until a notice appeared on the office walls declaring no fodder was available.

On his part, Dahod District Collector R M Jadhav said that over 1.5 lakh kilos of fodder has been distributed in the district twice, over the last 20 days.

“There is no shortage of fodder in Dahod district. We have been delivering fodder at all the distribution points,” he said.

Elsewhere, taluka officials in Devgadh Baria have said that fodder supply has been badly affected by the delay in the monsoon. “We have no other choice but turn away these farmers because fodder is not available,” said the official refusing to come on record.

Sambhaben, who has two pregnant buffaloes, said she managed to buy fodder from private sellers in the last one week, but cannot do so any more.

Meanwhile, Devgadh Baria MLA Tusharsinh admitted that the problem of fodder has been affecting not just his constituency, but people all over Dahod.

“There are no rains and most of the waterbodies have dried up. There are no irrigation facilities in the area, while demand for fodder is the same,” said Tusharsinh.

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