C.R. HAZRA

Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

India has a vast animal population of varied species. However, low productivity is a matter of concern which is mainly due to fodder resources which are poor in quality and low in availability. For increased production of better quality forage, more area should be brought under forages with improved varieties and revegetation of degraded pasture and other wastelands with appropriate pasture species. The All India Co-ordinated Project for Research on Forage Crops has developed about 100 cultivars in about 25 crop species. Forage production in existing farming systems is another important area for amelioration of forage resources. Forage seed production is also a critical input in forage resource development. Among others, stylos have been found to be the most important component in revegetation of degraded lands and the grasslands of India, accounting for 25% of the geographical area (75 M ha). Presently, a good amount of stylo seed (2000 t) is also produced in India.