HYDROPONIC FODDER PRODUCTION: AN ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN INDIA

In India, livestock plays important role for the nutritional security particularly for the small and marginal farmers. Though, India represents as the highest livestock population and milk producing country, but only 5% of cropped land area is utilized for cultivating fodder and facing a deficit of 35.6% green fodder, 26% of dry fodder and 41% of concentrate feed ingredients. Rapid urbanization, climate change, water scarcity etc. are the momentum to search alternate system for green fodder production. Hydroponic is the best alternative which involves production of fodder without soil in a confined environment (hi-tech or low-cost device) and harvested at 7-8days period of time. It is gaining importance as it is used to guarantee a constant production of high quantity of green forage round the year for livestock. Seed for hydroponic cultivation is the major input and shares 90% of the total cost of production as compared to conventional system. Since the hydroponics fodder is more palatable, digestible and nutritious, it improves immune status of the animals and augments productive and reproductive performance of the livestock. Supplementation of 5-10kg hydroponic fodders per cow per day increases milk production by 8-13%; and meat quality based on the digestibility of the nutrients. Farmers can adopt small- or large-scale hydroponic production following low cost devices and sustain green fodder supplements round the year for profitable livestock production. Livestock farmers are to be educated and aware through capacity building programme for their keen interest towards importance of the hydroponic and green fodders for sustainable livestock production.