Page 80 - Agroforestry system - book inner (final corrected) - 9.-3-21_Neat

National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”

3 Likely cost The total cost of intervention in five years for the
system was about Rs. 47,000/-. Output in terms of
net profit per unit area was Rs. 14,130/- ha year
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as compared to degraded grassland which gives
on an average output to the tune of Rs. 5400/- ha
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year .
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4 How the new technology will The overall net income ha year of degraded
impact the income of the farmers grassland was raised from Rs. 5,400/- to Rs.
and its benefits over conventional 14,130/- ha year through the development of
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technologies / know-how in terms Morus + Napier hybrid grass silvi-pastoral system.
of savings in cost of production,
inputs, timeliness; and other pertinent
information.
Data and Information collection
On the issue of lack of adequate and genuine data on production and availability of various types of fodder
and feed grains, the National Livestock Policy 2013, has stated: “Competent agencies will be encouraged to
generate real-time and time-period data on fodder production, feed grain production, land availability for
grassland and other pasture grounds, etc. Unlike food crops, the Agriculture Ministry does not collect data
on fodder crops, whose availability poses a serious challenge in increasing productivity. “There is no agency
to provide precise data on fodder crops production, productivity and adoption of improved varieties and
technology for effective policy formulation and research planning,” according to IGFRI.
Conclusion:

The way forward through Agroforestry is an important option to ensure nutritional security (both human
& livestock), profitability, gainful employment and environmental security in temperate agroclimatic zone of
India. In order to widen the implementation of agroforestry and harness the full potential, the research, policy
and practice will have to progress towards:

(i) creating adequate storage, transportation and marketing facilities for agroforestry produces
(particularly animal fodder and horticultural produces) in rural areas;
(ii) strengthening extension activities for effective dissemination of agroforestry-fodder production
system and periodical trainings of farmers and extension personnel for imparting knowledge and
skill for implementation of these systems.
(iii) maintenance of the traditional agroforestry and strategic creation of new target domain specific AFS
along with integration of modern soil and moisture conservation, crop husbandry fodder production
practices;
(iv) continuous assessment (in terms of yield, profitability, employment, resource use efficiencies,
climate change mitigation and adaptation potential) and refinement of developed AFS models in
farmer participatory approach;

Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development 61