Effect of 2019 flood in Sangli district on dairy enterprises and the constraints faced by the flood affected respondents to rebuild the farming and dairy sector

Sangli region is prone to severe flooding due to its location in the upper Krishna basin and the catchment area of the Koyna and Almatti dams, experienced one of its most destructive floods in 2019. The flood was a result of an unprecedented 400 percent increase in rainfall within four days in the catchment areas of the Krishna and Warna rivers. This excessive precipitation, coupled with the inadequate discharge capacity of the Krishna River downstream of the Koyna dam, led to severe flooding, caused extensive damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure, significantly affecting the local agricultural and dairy sectors. This study was carried out to know the effect of 2019 flood on dairy enterprises of the flood affected farmers and also takes glance on the constraints faced by them due to flood and suggestions given by them and was conducted in Miraj, Palus and Walwa tehsils of Sangli district. The data was collected through the personal interviews of the respondents. The study indicated that, 92.00 percent farmers reported the death of the livestock with 28.00 percent of the farmers reported lost and majority of the farmers reported shortage of feed during and after flood. The results concludes that 64.00 percent of the respondents faced milk reduction in buffalo and 12.67 percent respondents faced reduction of milk of cow. Most of the livestock sheds were partially damaged and chaff cutter was also partially damaged. Key issues included prolonged water stagnation, lack of timely government aid, increased pest and disease outbreaks, and difficulties in restoring damaged infrastructure. The study recommends improved flood management strategies, timely compensation for losses, better dissemination of information regarding insurance schemes, and the establishment of common shelters for livestock.