LPM 121: Fodder Production and Grassland Management (1+1)

CONSTRAINTS AND WAYS AND MEANS TO INCREASE FORAGE PRODUCTION

Constraints

• Less than 2.5 % of area under fodder production • Small holdings do not allow farmers for allocating area for fodder production due to preference to food crops
• More dependence on crop residues which are not that much nutritive • More dependence on grazing (on others / common) resources, which are having unpalatable species
• Less awareness among farmers with regard to the advantages of green fodder.
• Less production of protein rich legume fodders
• Huge livestock population and hence higher Green fodder demand
• Non – availability of feed/fodder data
• Poor feeding practices

Ways and means to increase fodder production

• Maximising forage production in space and time.
• Identifying new forage resources and increasing fodder seed production.
• Increasing the forage production within the existing farming systems.
• Adoption of agroforestry systems to utilise different tree fodders for livestock rearing.
• Utilising marginal, sub-marginal drylands and problem soils for developing feed and fodder resources.
• Exploiting the feasibilities of growing fodder along with food and cash crops.
• Utilising barren and uncultivated lands.
• Establishment of fodder banks in villages
• Conservation of fodder into feed blocks.
• Enrichment of straw/stover with urea/fortification.
• Use of chaff cutters.
• Comprehensive watershed development programs with inclusion of fodder component.