Port Blair, Apr 13: In the small holder farming systems of these Islands, the production of forage and fodder is often a side-lined activity and being practiced by only few of the Island farmers. The population growth accompanied by the improvement in the general living standards have pushed up the demand of dairy products thus led to increased animal rearing activity by the farmers has widened the gap between the demand and supply of fodder and feed resources in the Islands. There is good scope for increasing productivity of fodder trees and fodder legumes by growing together in the agroforestry system with appropriate silvicultural management practices.
Many tropical trees and shrubs are traditionally known and used for their fodder value. They have been tested for improved silvi – pastoral management, special attention being given to nitrogen-fixing species. The major function of this system is production of food, fodder and wood products for home consumption and sale for cash.
The fodder trees may produce high foliage six months after planting that can be used to feed the cattle. The management of the fodder trees are important because the trees will produce more seeds and if we leave the trees to grow that will produce more seeds and naturally that will cover the entire field. Therefore, the tree should be cut 1.5 m to 2 m above the ground it coppices at regular intervals.
The tender leaves/ twigs of trees should be chopped and mixed with chopped fodder grasses while feeding to cattle/buffaloes. Goats are fed by hanging bundles of long leafy twigs, overhead. By cut and carry and pruning management, MPT’s can provide high quality fresh forage year-round, even during the peak of the dry period in integrated farming system.
Based on the evaluation and availability of the fodder trees in the agroforestry systems, the major fodder trees prevailing in this Island are given here. The listed species are both indigenous and introduced in these Islands, but most of these are found growing successfully.
Growth and yield performance of important MPT’s under Island conditions
S.
No MPTs Part (s) used as a fodder Suggested place for planting No. of lopping’s per year Number of trees / ha Leaf biomass production (kg/tree/ year)
1. Leucaena leucocephala
(Subabul) Leaves, pod, flowers Boundary planting 5 200 20
2. Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret (Agathi) Leaves, pods, flowers Alley planting/ pond bund 4 50 12
3. Mussaenda macrophylla (Wall) (Sweet Root) Leaves, flowers Border planting 4 40 25
4. Ficus hispida (Wild Fig)
Leaves, fruits Terrace/ alley planting 5 40 30
5. Trema tomentosa Roxb. (Peach-leaved Poison Bush) Leaves, flowers and fruits Terrace planting/ pound bund 6 50 15
6. Bauhinia variegata L. (Orchid tree) Leaves, flowers and pods Terrace planting 5 25 30
7. Sapium baccatum Roxb.(Milk Tree) Leaves and fruits Intercropping 5 25 14
8. Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp (Gliricidia) Leaves, flowers and pods Boundary / alley planting 6 175 24
9. Crypteronia paniculata Blume. (Pyanma) Leaves and panicles Around poultry shed 6 15 24
10. Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth.(Manila Tamarind) Leaves, flowers and fruits Boundary/border 6 75 15
During this lock down period, the farmers are finding it difficult to get feed for the animals. If these fodder trees are incorporated in the systems, the future fodder requirements could be partly met during distress conditions. The presence of trees create conditions that extend far beyond the mere reduction of heat and light; the soil condition changes due to incorporation of the MPTs in the system.
The lopping of the trees in the system for fodder should start from third year onwards through rotational basis and the coppice shoots/ new shoots can be lopped regularly for meeting the requirement of the fodder to avoid the over shading and self-seeding of the trees. The coppice shoots are harvested 4 times during the year per tree leaving 2 shoots on each stump. For sustainable farming, incorporation of trees is one of the best land-use systems with adequate advantage of soil and water conservation. It has been proved that such a system can reduce soil erosion, besides providing for rainwater harvesting in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The suitable integration will also contribute to fallow management, crop production, soil nutrient replenishment, soil conservation, and animal feed supply. Therefore, it is certain that inclusion of these MPT’s offers positive economic and ecological advantages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
