Port Blair, Aug 14: An awareness training programme on “Cultivation of Fodder crops under varying topographies to improve livestock productivity” was conducted on 14th August 2015 at Badmas Pahar community hall for the benefit of the local dairy farmers. The training programme was organised by the Division of Animal Science, KVK of ICAR- Central Island Agricultural research Institute, Port Blair under the inter Institutional fodder project to increase the productivity of Dairy Animals of Bay Islands. The programme was presided by Dr. A. Kundu, Head, Division of Animal Sciences; Dr S. Dam Roy Director of ICAR- CIARI was the chief guest on this occasion. Dr. Nagesh Ram, PC, KVK welcome the chief guest and the farmers for this training programme. Dr. A. Kundu in his address narrated the fodder scenario of the Islands and its importance in increasing the productivity of the dairy animals. He also explained about the problems of dairy farming and possible solution about the fodder cultivation using the inter crops space for this purpose. He opined that if 20% of the plantation crop areas are brought under fodder cultivation it could solve the fodder problem in the Islands. Three progressive farmers shared their experiences and constrain faced for dairy farming in the area. Dr Dam Roy in his address put more stress for proper feeding to the dairy animals to get optimum milk production as well as to reduce inter-calving period rather than possessing for exotic cattle like Holstein Frisian or Jersey cross. He advised the farmers to cultivate fodder crops for feeding the dairy animals. He also narrated the different varieties of fodder crops suitable for the farmers in these Islands. It was also suggested that the different varieties of fodder which have been tested at CIARI and giving good results are only given to the farmers for cultivation in their field. He also suggested the scientists of the Animal Science Division for arrangement of field day for the farmers, to show them different varieties of fodder are being cultivated at CIARI. Dr. N.C Choudhary, ACTO of KVK and Co-PI of Inter Institutional project briefed about the project initiated by ICAR-CIARI for the benefit of the dairy farmers. DR. M. S. Kundu, the PI of the Project, explained about the importance of quality fodders and its requirement to increase the productivity of the milking animals. He also narrated in details about agronomical practices about various kinds of fodders . Cultivations of fodder were also demonstrated to the farmers. The Director also distributed the fodder root slips of Hybrid Napier and fodder seeds of multicut sorghum, cow pea and agathi for cultivation and propagation in their field. Twelve farm women and twelve farmers participated in the training programme.
