An Overview Of Our Solution
Biodiversity and Animal Feed- Future Challenges
Availability of Green Fodder all-round the year is major challenge faced by Dairy Farmers to make their business profitable. Aamhi Shetkari Agritech is working along with Dairy Farmers in designing best production system of Green Fodder Production to address the issue. During the course, we have found three solutions which are proving path-breaking in addressing the issue. Around 10,000 Farmers have been trained so far under this initiative directly and another 25,000 Farmers have adopted these solutions after seeing benefits of those trained.These solutions have shown maximum returns on investment in all aspects of a production system. Hence, we plan to implement them in other parts of India and World.
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Asia
General Information
Organization type
Other
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Grasslands
Population impacted
25000
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
100 ha
Production quantity
5000 MT
People employed
10
Solution
Describe your solution
We have found three promising solutions to make Green Fodder available all round the year for Dairy Farmers.
1. Silage Making with used Jumbo bags and PP Liners
Use of Jumbo Bags and PP liners for making silage is best solution for small and marginal Dairy Farmers owing small herd size. We found that small and marginal Farmers do not have enough resources to build silage pits underground. Also, as their herd size was small the silage prepared in pits used to get spoiled before use.
2. Hydroponics Green Fodder Production Unit
Use of simple structure to grow Green Fodder without soil is know as hydroponics. Our structure consists of 100 Plastic Trays, Foggers, Timer, electric pump and PVC pipes.
3. Azolla Production Unit
We have developed a method for cultivating Azolla that is easy and economical for livestock farmers. Dung produced by livestock is used to help fertilize the Azolla plants which, in turn, provide nutrition for the livestock.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
Aamhi Shetkari Agritech team has been working since last four years in promotion of these solutions amongst Dairy Farmers in State of Maharashtra. We believe that most efficient technique for promotion of an activity is through demonstration, as most of us trust on fundamental principle of- "Seeing is Believing". Hence teams consisting of veterinary expert, agronomist and volunteers were formed, which were initially trained regarding all aspects of silage preparation, hydrophonics and azolla cultivation. These teams further campaigned in villages and demonstrated solutions to dairy farmers with support of local volunteers.
Our teams mainly covered perpendicular strip of land in western part of Maharashtra comprising of Ahmadnagar, Nasik, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur districts, These districts have more than one-third of bovine population of the state, mainly crossbred cows and buffaloes.
Districts covered- 7
Villages covered- 1000
Demonstrations conducted- 869
Dairy Farmers using these solutions successfully- 25,000 approx.
External connections
While implementation, we have taken support from each stakeholder in dairy value chain for effective reach of these solutions to target group. Village Milk Co-operatives, Private Milk Collectors, Dairy Department, Agricultural Department, Taluka Milk Co-operatives, Feed Manufacturers and Agricultural Universities have given us hand holding support, guidance and resources to make this campaign a successful one.
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
In Maharashtra, more than three-fourth of the agriculture is rain-fed. Irregular Monsoon and its erratic pattern has caused drastic change groundwater levels. Due to Rainfall anomaly Dairy Farmers are facing a severe shortage of livestock feed and fodder, mainly of Green Fodder in summer season.
Availability of Green Fodder all-round the year is major challenge faced by Dairy Farmers to make this business profitable. An Analysis shows there is deficiency of 36% Green Fodder in India. Aamhi Shetkari Agritech is working along with Dairy Farmers in finding solutions which will address this challenge in most efficient manner.
Describe the context in which you are operating
In Maharashtra, more than three-fourth of the agriculture is rain-fed. Moreover uneven distribution of rainfall across various regions of the state and also with erratic pattern, dairying is gaining importance as a source of livelihood for the small and marginal farmers of the state.
An analysis of rainfall data of over 100 years in Maharashtra, done by National Climate Centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD), has shown significant decreasing trend in pre-monsoon and winter season rains in many districts of Maharashtra State, which has set the alarm bells ringing. The decrease is a cause of concern as pre-monsoon and winter rain are important for agriculture and for an increase in ground water level. The decrease in rainfall in pre-monsoon and winter has affected the annual rainfall in the State and drier months in the year had increased in the State and most of the rainfall activity is now centered in August, the analysis shows. Due to Rainfall anomaly Dairy Farmers are facing a severe shortage of livestock feed and fodder, mainly of Green Fodder in summer season.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
There has been positive impact on bio-diversity in total by use of our solutions. Jumbo Bags which are used for making silage were procured from factories which have already used them for transportation of other material goods, thus bring them into use again and avoiding pollution of soil. 5000 Bags each of one ton capacity have been brought into use.
Districts covered- 7
Villages covered- 1000
Demonstrations conducted- 869
Dairy Farmers using these solutions successfully- 25,000 approx.
Availability of Green Fodder prior to use of silage- 40% shortage.
Availability of Green Fodder after to use of silage- 0% shortage.
Increase in milk yield per animal per year- 300 to 600 litres
Investment needed per kg of fodder- Rs.1.0
Return on investment- 150%
When there is shortage of fodder, alternative crops like sugarcane are used as source of green fodder which in turn causes shortage of sugarcane for sugar production causing rise in sugar prices. Also, continuous feeding of sugarcane causes health problems to cattle.
Shortage of fodder limits milk production, which in turn causes shortage of supply of fresh milk and its by products in market. Shortage triggers rise in prices and also per capita availability of milk, causing malnutrition.
Hence, availability of green fodder all round the year is very important for dairy industry to flourish and also to human population which depends largely on milk for nutrition.
Language(s)
Marathi, Hindi
Water
In water scarce state of Maharashtra, allocation of water have started efficiently for agriculture, dairy and human use. These solutions have taught farmers to produce sufficient quantity of food even under water scarcity.
Food Security/Nutrition
Milk is main source of nutrition to most of us here in India and around the world. Milk production is directly linked to fodder availability to milch animals. Our solutions ensures fodder availability, which ensures milk production as per demand. That means, it will directly effect on per capita availability of milk. Adoption of these solutions will ensure Milk security in each region of World.
Economic/Sustainable Development
Dairy farmers have seen increase in there profits. They can now allocate lesser resources and land for fodder cultivation. This has caused allocation of land to other commercial crops. Thus, earning extra on them too.
Climate
Recycling of Bags and plastic has reduced pollution of soil, water and air to some extent. These solutions use minimum resources to produce fodder then by use of conventional system.
Sustainability
Our solutions have very good return on investment and hence, easily adopted by Dairy Farmers with 100% investment from their side.
Return on investment
Districts covered- 7
Villages covered- 1000
Demonstrations conducted- 869
Dairy Farmers using these solutions successfully- 25,000 approx.
Availability of Green Fodder prior to use of silage- 40% shortage.
Availability of Green Fodder after to use of silage- 0% shortage.
Increase in milk yield per animal per year- 300 to 600 litres
Investment needed per kg of fodder- Rs.1.0
Return on investment- 150%
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
These solutions can be used by all small and marginal farmers in this world.