Two-day national group meet of forage scientists began at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Tuesday to devise strategies of augmenting production and productivity of forage crops. Chief Guest of the meet, Deputy Director General (Crop Science), ICAR Dr TR Sharma stressed that State wise fodder policy should be prepared and submitted to concerned Governments with feedback about extent of its implementation.

The meet discussed ways and means of ensuring adequate availability of nutritious fodder to livestock for increasing milk and meat production for country’s burgeoning population. Scientists associated with improvement, production, management and protection of forage crops from agricultural universities and research institutes from 21 states are attending the event.

Sharma said 122 varieties of 34 forage crops have been developed and released so far and complete product profile like yield potential, climate resilience, protein content, suitability for mechanical harvesting etc should be maintained for at least 10-12 varieties for mass propagation. Indian Grass land and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi should involve new energetic scientists in varietal development to expedite formulation of release proposals and should develop seed standards of forage crops  in association with Indian Institute of Seed Science (IISS), Mau.

BAU Vice Chancellor Dr SC Dubey, who chaired the meet, said per capita milk availability in Jharkhand is only 117 grams per day as compared to national average of about 400 grams. Lack of green fodder is the main reason behind this gap. “Country is deficient on the green fodder front by 11 percent but this deficiency is 70 percent in Jharkhand. There is a big gap in requirement and supply of dry fodder and feed also. Fodder policy for the state should be framed keeping these aspects in view,” he added.

The VC also emphasized on working out economics of collection, processing and transportation of dry fodder from fields as a large number of farmers in states adjoining Delhi resort to stubble burning for removing paddy crop residues from their field for sowing wheat. Dr PK Singh, Director Research of BAU welcomed the guests.

Those who made their presentations included Dr SK Pradhan, Assistant Director General (Food and Fodder Crops), ICAR, Dr PK Singh, Agriculture Commissioner, GoI, Dr Pankaj Kaushal, Director, Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi (UP), Dr GP Singh, Director, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, Dr Sujay Rakshit, Director, Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology,  Dr Sain Dass, former director, Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Dr Sanjay Kumar, Director, Indian Institute of Seed Research, Mau (UP), Project Coordinator Dr VK Yadav, Principal Agronomist Dr RK Agrawal and representatives of fodder industry. The event is being coordinated by BAU scientists and organizing secretary Dr Yogendra Prasad.