
NATIONAL COORDINATED FODDER PROGRAMME
NARC, Islamabad
INTRODUCTION
Regular supply of adequate and nutritious fodder is essential for the promotion
and development of livestock. In Pakistan mainly two types of livestock
production practices are prevailing i.e. (i) rural household where animals are
closely integrated with the rural subsistence economy using grown fodder which
comprise of all crops that are used as cut and carry livestock feed (ii) large
herds (mostly small ruminants) kept in rangelands where livestock feed include
all vegetation grazed and browsed by livestock, with particular reference to
rainfed flat lands, hill lands and rangelands. More than half of animal feed is
coming from fodders and crop residues, 1/3rd from grazing of rangelands,
wastelands, canal bank, road sides and the rest is from crops and their by
products (Table 1). Fodder production is the major limiting factor for livestock
production in our country. In terms of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) we are
short by about 28.62 million tons and in terms of Digestible Protein (DP) about
1.76 million tons.
Table 1 Contribution of Different Sources to Feed Livestock in Pakistan.
|
Major fodder crops grown during winter include berseem, lucerne, vetch, oats, barley and mustard; while during summer these comprise maize, sorghum, millet and cowpeas. These crops cover 16 to 19% of the total cropped area in the country. The area with minor fluctuations decreased from 2.6 million hectares in 1976-77 to 2.45 million hectares in 2005-06 (Table 2). However, total production in the corresponding years increased from 45.10 million tones to 55.47 million tones. Similarly, yield per unit area also increased from 17.4 t/ha to 22.7 t/ha (i.e. about 30% increase) as a result of the concerted Research and Development (R & D) efforts made by the fodder research scientists through the development of improved production technologies. The problem of green fodder shortage occurred during May-June and December-January have been recently solved by growing multi cut fodder crops like S.S. hybrids, lucerne, Mixtures of cereals & legumes and Mottgrass.
Availability of improved seed of fodder crops is one of the major limiting factor in fodder crops production in the country. It is estimated that only 5 to 10 percent area of fodder crops is grown with improved seed. Considering the subject of improved seed production, it involves a number of interlinked systems; agro-climatic conditions, specific crop adaptation to environment, socio-economic and political factors including prices and marketing, crop management and production. Unfortunately, there is neither private nor government sector involved in the seed business of fodder crops as it is in case of wheat, cotton, vegetables etc. Only 10% fodder seed is produced locally. The requirement is fulfilled either by importing seed from other countries and by purchasing from the under standard non-certified seed, or produced by the farmers without any consideration of seed production guidelines. There is great potential of domestic fodder crops seed production. Recently a number of private seed companies have entered in fodder seed production in the country. For example Jullundar Seed Company based at Arifwala; Younas Seed Corporation and Green Gold Faisalabad are involved in domestic fodder crops seed production.
Table 2 Area and Production and Average yield of Fodder Crops in Pakistan.
Source: Planning Cell, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Government of Pakistan. |
Table 3 Crop-Wise and Province-Wise Area and Production of Various Fodder Crops in Pakistan (2005-06)
Area in hectares
Production in tons
|
Fodder
Crops |
Punjab
|
Sindh |
NWFP |
Balochistan |
Pakistan |
|||||
|
Area |
Production |
Area |
Production |
Area |
Production |
Area |
Production |
Area |
Production |
|
|
Sorghum |
618900 |
8033400 |
59379 |
916954 |
15531 |
313364 |
10032 |
242529 |
703842 |
9506247 |
|
Guar |
80300 |
872400 |
16031 |
161959 |
0 |
0 |
167 |
3384 |
96498 |
1037743 |
|
Maize |
202400 |
2518000 |
10959 |
153895 |
29413 |
550173 |
1266 |
33663 |
247025 |
3298151 |
|
Millet |
50000 |
622085 |
15128 |
180350 |
2426 |
29821 |
226 |
4214 |
67780 |
836470 |
|
Moth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
956 |
18383 |
120 |
1798 |
1076 |
20181 |
|
Other
Summer |
51200 |
637015 |
16868 |
194489 |
1282 |
21210 |
9060 |
186000 |
72339 |
934875 |
|
Total |
1002800 |
12682900 |
118365 |
1607647 |
49608 |
932951 |
20871 |
471588 |
1191644 |
15695086 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Berseem |
783600 |
25150700 |
92987 |
4562515 |
17322 |
509464 |
4670 |
131677 |
898579 |
30354356 |
|
Oats |
99500 |
2762533 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
99500 |
2762533 |
|
Lucerne
|
91400 |
2463500 |
46317 |
1050229 |
0 |
0 |
7267 |
464872 |
144984 |
3978601 |
|
Shaftal |
0 |
0 |
449 |
5193 |
28681 |
754746 |
333 |
8716 |
29463 |
768655 |
|
Brassica |
0 |
0 |
3835 |
56746 |
645 |
24059 |
0 |
0 |
4480 |
80805 |
|
Barley |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2634 |
44521 |
0 |
0 |
2634 |
44521 |
|
Other
Winter |
49800 |
1381267 |
7550 |
110246 |
10411 |
75459 |
9059 |
220047 |
73683 |
1691554 |
|
Total |
1024300 |
31758000 |
151138 |
5784929 |
59693 |
1408249 |
21329 |
825312 |
1256460 |
39776490 |
|
Grand
Total |
2027100 |
44440900 |
269503 |
7392576 |
109301 |
2341200 |
42200 |
1296900 |
2448104 |
55471576 |
The crop-wise and province-wise area and production of fodder crops in Pakistan for the year 2005-06 are shown in Table 3. The Punjab province puts 2.03 million hectare area under fodder crop (83% of Pakistan) and produces 44.44 million tons of green fodder (80% of Pakistan).
Development
of improved fodder production Technology
The National Cooperative Research Program on Fodder at NARC has developed
various packages of technologies for improving fodder production per unit area
(Table 4).
Table 4 Package of Improved Production Technology for Better Fodder Yield.
|
Crops
|
Seed
rate Kg/ha |
Sowing
time |
Method
of sowing |
Fertilizer
N-P-K kg/ha |
Green
fodder yield (t/ha) |
|
Berseem
|
20-25
|
21st
Sept- end of Oct. |
Broadcast
in standing water. |
22-115-00 |
125-150
|
|
Lucerne
|
10-12
|
Mid
Oct.- mid Nov. |
45
cm apart in lines. |
22-115-00
|
110-125
|
|
Oats
|
75-100
|
21st
Sept.- |
30
cm apart in lines. |
75-50-00
|
60-80
|
|
Sorghum
|
75-80
|
March-
August |
-do-
|
60-60-00
|
50-60
|
|
S.S.
hybrid |
25-30
|
Mid
Feb.- mid Mar. |
45
cm apart lines in good moisture |
-do-
(60 kg N/ha after each cut) |
120-130
|
|
Millet
|
12-15
|
April-
August |
30
cm apart in lines |
60-60-00
|
40-60
|
|
Guar
|
40-50
|
April-July
|
-do-
|
22-60-00
|
30-40
|
|
Cowpeas
|
30-35
|
March-July
|
45
cm apart |
22-60-00
|
30-40
|
|
Maize |
100-120 |
March-August |
30
cm apart |
60-60-00 |
60-70 |
|
Mott
grass |
28000
Cutting or root slips |
Mid
February- August. |
75cm
x 75cm |
60-60-00,
FYM twice in a year. 30kg N in November for early summer production |
80-200 |
Varietal
Development under NCFRP
High yielding good quality varieties/hybrids of different fodder crops have been
developed by various institutes from the germplasm supplied by Fodder Research
Program, NARC (Table 5). Further research work is in progress for release of
varieties of oats, berseem, vetch, sorghum and millet. Similarly at NARC in
Fodder Research Programme evaluation of germplasm of oats (168 lines), vetch (19
lines), sorghum (150 lines) and millet (134 lines) is in progress. These lines
of fodder germplasm have great variation in maturity, morphological
characteristics, growth habit etc. Therefore, it is expected that in future a
number of varieties will be evolved from exploiting the genetic potential of
this germplasm through National Coordinated Fodder Research Programme for
various ecologies of the country. Furthermore, the existing germplasm of these
crops provides source for desired characters for plant breeders to improve their
breeding programmes.
Table 5 Fodder Crops Varieties Developed under National Coordinated Fodder Research Programme.
|
S.
No. |
Crop
|
Variety |
Year
of Approval |
Name
of Institute |
|
1 |
Berseem |
Agaiti
Berseem |
1986 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
2 |
Berseem |
Pachati
Berseem |
1986 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
3 |
Berseem |
Berseem
Peshawari |
1992 |
ARI,
Tarnab, Peshawar |
|
4 |
Lucerne
|
Sargodha
Lucerne |
2002 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
5 |
Oats |
Palestine |
1961 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
6 |
Oats |
Fatua |
1962 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
7 |
Oats |
Algerian |
1963 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
8 |
Oats |
W.
No. 11 |
1965 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
9 |
Oats |
DN-8 |
1974 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
10 |
Oats
|
Avon |
1983 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
11 |
Oats |
PD2-LV65 |
1983 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
12 |
Oats |
Sargodha
81 |
1983 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
13 |
Oats |
S-2000 |
2000 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
14 |
Sorghum
|
JS-263 |
1968 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
15 |
Sorghum
|
Indian-III |
1974 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
16 |
Sorghum
|
No.
94 |
1974 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
17 |
Sorghum
|
No.
132 |
1975 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
18 |
Sorghum
|
Hegari |
1975 |
AARI,
Faisalabad |
|
19 |
Sorghum |
JS-2002 |
2002 |
FRI
Sargodha |
|
20 |
S.
S. Hybrid |
Pak-Sudax |
1986 |
FRI
Sargodah |
|
21 |
Millet
|
MB-87 |
1991 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
22 |
Maize |
Sargodha
2002 |
2002 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
23 |
Maize
x Teosinte |
Mazenta |
1991 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
24 |
Cowpeas
|
Rawan
2003 |
2003 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
25 |
Guar |
BR-90 |
1991 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
26 |
Guar |
BR-99 |
2000 |
FRI,
Sargodha |
|
Varieties
in Pipeline:
Oats
= 02,
Berseem = 02,
Vetch = 01, Sorghum
= 02,
Millet =
01 |
||||
Year-Round
Green Fodder Availability
The National Coordinated Research Programme on Fodder at NARC has
developed year-round green fodder availability calendar for irrigated areas
which is presented in the following table.
Table 6. Year-round Green Fodder Availability Calendar for Irrigated Areas.
|
Crops
|
Sowing
time |
Harvesting
time |
Fodder
Production (t/ha) |
|
Sorghum
|
From
3rd week of March to mid- September. |
May
to December |
50-70
|
|
Sorghum
+ Cowpeas
|
From
3rd week of March to mid- September. |
May
to December |
40-60
|
|
Millet
|
From
3rd week of March to mid- September. |
May
to December |
45-65
|
|
Millet
+ Cowpeas |
From
3rd week of March to mid- September. |
May
to December |
40-60
|
|
Maize
|
From
3rd week of March to mid- September. |
May
to December |
50-70
|
|
Maize
+ Cowpeas |
From
3rd week of March to mid- September. |
May
to December |
50-70
|
|
Sorghum
Sudan grass hybrid |
From
mid- Feb. to mid-March |
Mid-April
to December
|
100-120
(Total of 4-5 cuttings) |
|
Mott
grass |
From
mid- Feb. to August |
Mid-April
to Dec. (Perennial crop)
|
80-150
(Total of 5-6 cuttings) |
|
Berseem
|
From
September to November. |
Mid-December
to mid-May. |
80-100
(Total of 5-6 cuttings) |
|
Berseem
+ Oats |
From
September to November. |
Early
December to mid-May. |
100-120
(Total of 5-6 cuttings) |
|
Lucerne
|
From
December to November. |
Perennial
crop available around the year |
65-90
(Total of 6-7 cuttings) |
|
Lucerne
+ oats |
From
Sep. to November. |
Perennial
crop available around the year.
|
70-100
(Total of 6-7 cuttings)
|
|
Oats |
From
Sep. to December. |
From
early Dec. to end of April. |
60-8 |
NOTE:
Multi-cut improved varieties of fodder crops like, S. S. hybrid, Mottgrass,
Lucerne, Oats and Berseem have been
identified and promoted for general cultivation to cover fodder deficit periods.
Names, Addresses and Contact Numbers of the Principal Investigators of Fodder Cooperating Units
|
Name
& Designation |
Official
Address |
Phone
# |
Mobile
# |
Fax
# |
E-mail Address
|
|
Sartaj
Khan, National Coordinator (Fodder) |
National
Agricultural Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad |
051-9255038 |
0333-5220764 |
051-9255034 |
|
|
Dr.
Akhtar Ali,
Director/
PI (Fodder) |
Fodder
Research Institute, PO Box # 43, Sargodha |
048-3711741
048-3712653 |
0300-8703891 |
048-3713080 |
|
|
Dr.
Hafeez. A. Sadaqat Associate Professor/ PI (Fodder) |
Department.
of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad |
041-9201281 041-9200161-69 Ext.
2927 |
0321-6603167 |
041-9201083 Attention
to Dr. Hafeez |
|
|
Dr. Ahmad Bakhsh, Director/ PI (Fodder) |
Agricultural
Research Institute. Dera Ismail Khan |
0966-740090 |
Residence: 0966-740246 |
0966-740415 Atten:
Mr. Bashir H.
Shahani
(Millet Botanist) |
Nil |
|
Atta
Ullah, Agronomist/
PI
(Fodder) |
Agricultural
Research Institute, Sariab,
Quetta |
081-9211197 081-2850130 |
0345-8339851 |
|
|
|
Khuda
Bux Abbassi, Agronomist / PI (Fodder) |
Agricultural
Research Institute, Tandojam,
Hyderabad |
022-2766473 |
0300-3798436 |
022-2765504 Atten:
Mr. Khuda Bux
Abbassi
(Agronomist) |
|
|
Dr.
Hidayat-ur- Rehman
Prof.
& Chairman (PBG)/ PI (Fodder) |
NWFP
Agricultural University, Peshawar |
091-9216892 |
0333-9122022 |
091-9216520 Atten:
Dr. Hidayat (PBG) |
Scientific Staff in Fodder Research Programme at NARC
|
Name |
Designation |
Qualification/
Discipline |
|
Mr.
Sartaj Khan |
SSO/Coordinator
(Fodder) |
M.
Agric. Sc. (Australia) / Agronomy |
|
Mr.
Ashiq Hussain |
Senior
Scientific Officer |
M.
Sc. (Hons.) Agri. / (PBG) |
|
Mr.
M. Shafiq Zahid |
Senior
Scientific Officer |
M.
Sc. (Hons.) Agri./Agronomy |
|
Mr.
Allah Bakhsh |
Scientific
Officer |
M.
Sc. (Hons.) Agri. / (PBG) |
|
Mr.
Muhammad Imran |
Scientific
Officer |
M.
Sc. (Hons.) Agri./Agronomy |
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
1. Ashiq Hussain, Sartaj Khan, M. I. Sultani and
Dost Mohammad. 2007. Locational differences in green fodder yield, dry matter
yield, and forage quality of sorghum. Pak. J. Agric. Res. 20:25-29.
2. Allah Bakhsh, Ashiq Hussain, Sartaj Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Gurmani and Muhammad
Imran. 2007. Variability in forage yield of oats under medium rainfall of
Pothowar tract. Sarhad J. Agri. (in press).
3. Imran, M., Allah Bakhsh, Sartaj Khan, Ashiq Hussain and Zulfiqar Ali Gurmani.
2007. Forage yield and quality potential of dual-type millet varieties under
rainfed conditions of NARC. Pak. J. Agric. Res. (in press).
4. Imran, M., Ashiq Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali Gurmani and Sartaj Khan. 2007. Berseem
(Egyptian clover): A nutritive multicut fodder. International J. “Science,
Technology and Development” (in press).
5. Imran, M., Ashiq Hussain, Zulfiqar Ali Gurmani, M. S. Zahid and Sartaj Khan.
2007. Cultivation of sunflower and its utilization in livestock. International
J. “Science, Technology and Development” (in press).
6. Imran, M., Sartaj Khan, R. Khalid, Z. A. Gurmani, A. Bakhsh, M. Masood and M.
I. Sultani. 2007. Performance of different millet cultivars for fodder
production under rainfed conditions of Islamabad. Sarhad J. Agric. 23 (2):
281-284.
7. Gurmani, A.Z., S. Shafiq & M.S. Zahid, Ashiq Hussain, M. Imran and Sartaj
Khan. 2006. Effect of phosphorus fertilizer application on green fodder and
grain yield of four vetch species. PJST 1(8&9): 1-8.
8. Gurmani, A.Z., M.S. Zahid &M. Bashir. 2006. Performance of vetch (Vicia
sativa) cultivars for fodder production under rainfed conditions of Pothwar
region. J., Agri. Res., 44(4):291-297.
9. Gurmani, A.Z., M Qamar S. Shafiq & M.S. Zahid 2006. Effect of phosphorus
fertilizer application on fodder and grain yield of vetch under rainfed
conditions of Pothwar region Pak. J., Agri. Sci., 43(1-2):17-20.
Resource Persons:
|
Dr. M. Shafiq Zahid |
Coordinator (Fodder) |
E-mail: mzahid1654@yahoo.com |