Mumbai: While large parts of the State withered under the onslaught of drought during 2012 to 2015, many farm households managed to provide green fodder to their cattle, thanks to an experiment that paid dividends. The successful introduction of hydroponic grass and azola as substitute feed by the State Women’s Development Corporation staved off hunger among milch animals, and has been commended at an international workshop by the International Fund For Agricultural Department (IFAD) in Rome.
The workshop, called Platform for Agricultural Risk Management (PARM), was conducted to build and develop an organised collection of good practices and lessons, as guidance for policy makers and rural development.
Also known as the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM), it is the State government’s nodal agency to implement women empowerment programmes through Self-Help Groups (SHG). Indra Mallo, managing director, MAVIM, says, “Maharashtra, especially Marathwada, received average rainfall of less than 200 mm during 2012 to 2014. It caused acute shortage of drinking water and green fodder, leading to the distress sale of milch animals and rural migration. MAVIM was concerned about farmers retaining animals purchased under the Micro Livelihood Plans (MLP).”
Minimum effort
Hydroponic grass can grow in small spaces — plastic trays and soil beds — with minimum investment. It grows in eight days, while azola takes 10 to 15 days, after which it can be harvested every three days. Ms. Mallo, who presented the paper on this experiment on October 25 in Rome, said, “This can be used as a substitute to green fodder, as it is rich in micronutrients for animals. The results were visible in their improved health and reduced mortality. It helped women to reduce the drudgery of collecting and gathering fodder, as it can be collected by hand and is located next to the animal sheds.”
The experiment, initiated in Beed and Osmanabad districts, has now spread in 28 districts across 2,172 villages, and has benefited 9,141 members. It has also reduced the daily input cost of cattle feed by at least ₹50.