NARC-Fodder||Achievement

Fodder crops varieties developed under NCFRP
Under National Coordinated Fodder Research Program (NCFRP) high fodder 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/hybrids of oats, berseem, vetch, sorghum, sudangrass and millet.

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	Peshawari	1992	ARI, Tarnab, Peshawar
4	Berseem	Anmol	2009	AARI, Faisalabad
5	Berseem	Super Berseem	2011	AARI, Faisalabad
6	Lucerne	Sargodha Lucerne	2002	FRI, Sargodha
7	Oats	Palestine	1961	AARI, Faisalabad
8	Oats	Fatua	1962	AARI, Faisalabad
9	Oats	Algerian	1963	AARI, Faisalabad
10	Oats	W. No. 11	1965	AARI, Faisalabad
11	Oats	DN-8	1974	AARI, Faisalabad
12	Oats	Avon	1983	FRI, Sargodha
13	Oats	PD2LV65	1983	FRI, Sargodha, NARC, Isb
14	Oats	Sargodha 81	1983	FRI, Sargodha, NARC, Isb
15	Oats	S-2000	2000	FRI, Sargodha
16	Oats	NARC-Oat	2011	NARC, Islamabad
17	Oats	S-2011	2011	FRI, Sargodha
17	Sorghum	JS-263	1968	AARI, Faisalabad
18	Sorghum	Indian-III	1974	AARI, Faisalabad
19	Sorghum	No. 94	1974	AARI, Faisalabad
20	Sorghum	No. 132	1975	AARI, Faisalabad
21	Sorghum	Hegari	1975	AARI, Faisalabad
22	Sorghum	JS-2002	2002	FRI Sargodha
23	Sorghum	Chakwal Sorghum	2008	BARI, Chakwal
24	Sorghum	MR Sorghum	2011	FRI Sargodha
25	S. S. Hybrid	Pak-Sudax	1986	FRI Sargodah
26	Millet	MB-87	1991	FRI, Sargodha
27	Millet	F-2005	2010	FRI, Sargodha
28	Maize	Sgd-2002	2002	FRI, Sargodha
29	Maize x Teosinte	Mazenta	1991	FRI, Sargodha
30	Cowpeas	Rawan 2003	2003	FRI, Sargodha
31	Guar	BR-90	1991	FRI, Sargodha
32	Guar	BR-99	2000	FRI, Sargodha
33	Ryegrass	RG-1	2011	FRI, Sargodha
Varieties/Hybrids in Pipeline: Oats =03, Berseem =01, Vetch =01 S.S.Hybrids =02, Sorghum =02, Millet =02

6.3 Germplasm

Fodder Research Programme acquired, evaluated and distributed 1339 germplasm lines of oats, Lucerne, berseem, vetch, sorghum, millet and cowpeas to fodder scientists of FRI, Sargodha, AARI, Faisalabad, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, NWFP Agriculture University Peshawar, ARI, Tandojam, ARI Sariab Quetta, BARS, Kohat, and BARI, Chakwal. For S.S. hybrids development Fodder Research Programme have acquired CMS lines and are available for distribution to the scientists of Agriculture Research Institute/universities in their sorghum x sudangrass hybrid development programmes.

6.4 Year-Round Green Fodder Availability

Availability of green fodder throughout the year is one of the problems faced by dairy farmers in various ecologies of the country. To address this problem the National Coordinated Research Programme on Fodder at NARC has developed year- round green fodder availability calendar for irrigated areas (Table-6).

Table 6. Year-round Green Fodder Availability Calendar for Irrigated Areas.

Crops	Sowing time	Harvesting time	Fodder Production (t/ha)
Sorghum	From 3^rd week of March to mid- September.	May to December	50-70
Sorghum + Cowpeas	From 3^rd week of March to mid- September.	May to December	40-60
Millet	From 3^rd week of March to mid- September.	May to December	45-65
Millet + Cowpeas	From 3^rd week of March to mid- September.	May to December	40-60
Maize	From 3^rd week of March to mid- September.	May to December	50-70
Maize + Cowpeas	From 3^rd 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.	60-80

6.5. Distribution/selling of improved fodder varieties seed/cuttings (tons)

About 440.78 tons of basic seed/cuttings of high yielding fodder crops (i.e. oats, vetch mottgrass, cowpeas, millet and fodder maize) were produced at NARC (Table-8). The primary objective of this activity is to disseminate high yielding varieties of fodder crops in country and to generate income.

Table 8. Improved seed production of fodder crops

Crop	Seed produced (tons)	Number of Farmers	Area Covered (ha)
Oats	264	1692	3520
Vetch	03	200	75
Mott grass cuttings	160.6	485	134
Cowpeas	0.5	46	125
Millet	4.5	67	300
Fodder Maize	8.18	76	82
Total	440.78	2566	4261

6.6. Training/Capacity Building

National Agricultural Research Centre has well established Agriculture Polytechnique Institute provide trainings in various disciplines to farmers, students, researchers and extension workers. Further Fodder programme provides facilities and technical support to students comes for internship/Master/M.Phel. research from various universities of the country. The details are given in the following table.

S. No	Trainees	Number	University/Institutes/Organization
1.	Scientists	29	Agriculture Research Institutes and NGOs
2.	Extension Workers	60	Provincial Agriculture Extension Departments, NGOs
3.	Students (Internship)	30	Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, KPK Agriculture University, Peshawar, Goamal University D.I. Khan, Agriculture University Tandojam , Lasbela University of Agriculture Water and Marine Sciences, Uthal, Balochistan Agricultre College Quetta, University of Agriculture Rawlakot (AJK).
4.	Students (Thesis)	2	Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi
5.	Agriculture Activists	103	Community Activists, Managers from various NGOs
6.	Farmers	1650	Throughout the country including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan

6.7. Adaptability Testing

Sorghum sudangrass hybrids (S.S hybrid) is an important multicut fodder crop, It covers fodder scarcity periods of May-June. It has gain popularity among the farming community however due to non existence of S.S hybrid seed production system in the country every year its seed is imported form overseas. The import is allowed after testing the hybrids for its fodder yield and resistance against pests and diseases in various ecologies of the country. Therefore, in the last eight years (2005-12) 138 exotic sorghum sudangrass hybrids were evaluated at 6-8 different locations under adaptability trials in collaboration with FSC&RD and 76 hybrids have been recommended for bulk import and general cultivation in the country. Through this activity an amount of Rs. 1000000/- has also been earned for the organization.

6.8. Developmental Project Implemented/in-progress

Projects	Duration	Achievements
Farming System Research Project	1988-93	· In this project improved Mustard variety S-9 mixed in wheat provided 97% more fodder and gave Rs. 1770/ha more income compared to farmers practice. · In another intervention incorporation of Cowpeas as a fodder in fallow-wheat system enhance 93% more income compared to traditional fallow wheat system. · Introduction of improved production technology of sorghum enhance the yield and income of the farmers about Rs. 2557/ha compared to farmers practice.
Productivity Enhancement Project	1992-93	· The use of improved production technology increased productivity to the tune of 50, 129 and 94% over farmers’ technology in sorghum, oats and mustard respectively.
FAO-Funded TCP Project	1993-96	· Farmers were demonstrated about free grazing disadvantages which need to be restricted with fence. · Silage making and straw treatment with urea was successfully demonstrated. · Superiority of oats and berseem was demonstrated in yield and quality compare to existing wheat, barley and shaftal. · Winter active Lucerne varieties were successfully introduced in orchard and other areas · Maize was demonstrated as alternate of wheat, oat and barley · Early maturing, high yielding varieties of buckwheat and foxtail millet were introduced for higher altitudes. · Seed multiplication techniques of various crops were demonstrated at farmers’ level to improve seed situation in the area.
Rehabilitation agricultural livelihood of women in marginal and post-conflict areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan: Participatory research, dissemination and adoption of improved dairy- goat production systems	2007-09	· 50-90% increase in fodder yield in all fodder crops compare to farmers’ practice · Use of guar hay as supplementary feed increase goat milk 500 to 900 ml per day · Guar hay tripled meat-production from 47 to 133 grams per day · 75 Farmers produced about 814 kg of guar and 953 kg seed · More than 350 households were direct beneficiaries of the fodder interventions
Community Action in Integrated and Market Oriented Feed-Livestock Production in Central and South Asia Project	2007-09	· Oats variety “PD2-LV65” has been introduced with yield potential of 44 t/ha. · Improved intervention (oats + vetch) produced 74 % more green fodder yield than the farmer’s traditional practice (Wheat for fodder). · 1510 kg seed of improved oats variety “PD₂-LV₆₅” was produced by farmers for sustainable improved fodder production. · Millet alone and Millet + Guar mixture have good performance recording green fodder yields of 31.25 and 31.45 t/ha.
Development of S.S. Hybrids for high forage yield and quality.	2008-10	· CMS sorghum A&B lines acquired : 28 · Sudan grass lines acquired: 17 · Hybrid developed: 12 · Hybrid registered with FSC&RD 02
Development of S.S. Hybrids for high forage yield and quality (2^nd Phase).	2011-13	In progress with following objectives:- · To maintain, purify and multiply the desirable parental lines of S. S. hybrids under various ecologies. · To see the fodder yield potential of best performing S. S. hybrids in various agro-climatic zones. · Refinement of production technology of S. S. hybrids under various environments. · To register developed hybrids with FSC&RD and promote its introduction to fodder growers through public-private partnership.

Crops	Seed rate Kg/ha	Sowing time	Method of sowing	Fertilizer N-P-K kg/ha	Green fodder yield (t/ha)
Berseem	20-25	21^st 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	21^st 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 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/root slips	Mid February- August	75cm x 75cm	60-60-00, FYM twice in a year. 30 kg N in November for early summer production	80-200