Azolla for socio-economic development of farming community and environmental benefits

Aquatic fern, Azolla is an under exploited multi utility resource, offering socio-economic and environmental benefits in different forms (fresh, dry and compost). It could serve as a potential manure or fertilizer and quality feed stuff for efficient nutrient recycling in agriculture, livestock, poultry and aquaculture sectors, consequentially curtailing input cost and enhancing farm output for higher economic returns. Its role as bio-fertilizer in paddy fields is well known. As manure it improves soil health by adding nutrients (N, P and K), carbon and organic matter into the soil. Unlike traditional mulching materials, Azolla provide additional moisture to the soil, besides conserving soil moisture and checking weed growth in orchards and vegetable fields. Further, it serves as a low cost protein rich feed resource for animals like cattle, pigs, goat, poultry, ducks and fish for improved health and increased production of milk, eggs and meat. Known for its historic role in cooling down the earth about 50 million years ago by carbon dioxide sequestering, Azolla needs to be exploited by the farming community in such a way that it is cultivated and utilised in maximum possible forms without much cost, labour and extra land requirement for socio-economic and environmental benefits.