Fodder Production and Grassland Management

INTRODUCTION

• A grassland is defined as a natural land surface which is covered mainly by members of the grass family of plants and are used for grazing livestock.
• It is estimated that about 90% of the livestock population in India subsists on natural grasses that are available inside and outside forests. Out of the total area of 328 million hectares of the Indian union, 12.1 million hectares are classified as grazing lands i.e. as permanent pastures and meadows.
• In addition to this, 43 million hectares of cultivable and non-cultivable lands also serve as grazing grounds for Indian Livestock.
• Grasslands are thus very important as feeding grounds for the livestock of the country and deserve to be developed along proper lines. Improperly managed grasslands not only fail in primary function of feeding livestock but also aggravate soil erosion and deplete the national soil wealth.