Executive Summary : | India is one of the important consumers and producers of Nutri-cereals in the world. Nutri-cereals are important crops in the country with higher area coverage under rainfed situation. At present, Nutri cereals are grown in resource poor agro-climatic regions, hilly & tribal areas of the country mostly under rainfed situations. Nutri-cereals are known for nutri-rich content and bearing characteristics like drought tolerance, photo-insensitivity and resilient to climate change. At global level also, the fodder value of rice, maize and wheat has been established but no extensive research information on nutri cereals fodder value is found. India is facing an extreme animal feed shortage, which is a "major factor" behind the recent rise in costs of milk production. The Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute has pointed a deficit of 23.4 per cent in the availability of dry fodder, 11.24 per cent in that of green fodder, and 28.9 per cent for concentrates. since nutri-cereals have already established fact that they have many health benefits from grains but there is a lack of information on the nutritive value of nutri-cereals fodder and their effect on livestock productivity. From this context, there is a need for assessing the quality of nutri-cereals fodder by varying the agronomical practices and its effect on animal productivity. Nutricereals fodder is an ideal forage crop due to their quick growth, lower water requirement, high yielding ability, high dry mater content, better quality and its suitability for various forms of utilization. Few nutri cereals specially browntop millet is highly remarkable for its early maturing ability. Most of the nutricereals are harvested in 70 to 85 days and hence offers ample scope for both grains and fodder. Nutri cereals survives even if monsoon is delayed and are being referred as contingent crops. These require a little moisture during sowing and one or two rains later, for the crop to grow and mature and has good quality fodder which cattle can relish since the fodder obtained from arable land is not sufficient to maintain the livestock in sound health. Farmers specially women in hills or tribal areas are mostly involved with the collection of fodder so, they spend more of manual energy for collection of fodder. With this background, if nutri cereals fodder value and quality and its ultimate effect on animal productivity is established, then probably the fodder scarcity at dryland where millets are grown, can solve the crisis to a major extent as most of nutri cereal fodder is not used extensively as an animal fodder. In situations of drought, the nutri-cereals serve as nutri rich garin and fodder under resource scarcity conditions. since these crops are eco-friendly and demand lesser inputs viz., chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides etc., can serve as a quality fodder from the point of animal health indirectly having a positive impact on human health. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Ananda Manegar G, University Of Agricultural sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560065, Dr. Umashankar B C, Veterinary College, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560024 |