Promotion of mixed fodder cultivation among the livestock growers through frontline demonstrations

Livestock rearing plays a significant role in the economy of India. Globalization has increased demand for milk and other dairy products worldwide. However supply and production of quality animal products are a challenge faced by farmers and entrepreneurs due to lack of knowledge about mixed fodder cultivation techniques and poor availability of quality fodder. Green fodder is an economic source of nutrients for the dairy animals. To address this issue KVK, Tenkasi district, Tamil Nadu demonstrated mixed fodder cultivation in 10 farmers fields with the technical support and provided the seeds/fodder slips of CO5, Hedge Lucerne, COFS31 and Agathi to the farmers. In these demonstrations the average yield of mixed fodder unit was 216.45 q/acre when compared with conventional method (174.80 q/acre). The highest net return was noticed in mixed fodder cultivation with Rs 1,40,881/ha as compared to farmers practice (Rs 85,046/ha). There was 16.18 per cent increase in milk yield noticed due to balanced green fodder availability throughout the year. The results indicated that the adoption of mixed fodder cultivation enhances the milk yield and reduces the cost of cultivation which in turn provides higher returns to farming community.