Dharashiv livestock farmers make sugarcane silage to tackle looming fodder shortage

Dharashiv, October 28: As signs of drought appear, farmers face the question of fodder for their animals along with their own livelihood. When green fodder runs short, how to keep livestock is the biggest worry for livestock keepers. To tackle this, experimenting livestock keepers in Kanagra village of Dharashiv taluka have started making silage from sugarcane. Made scientifically from the sugarcane available, the silage could become a useful option for livestock when fodder runs short.

With a fodder shortage likely in the district, the agriculture and animal husbandry departments are pushing to take alternative fodder-making techniques to livestock keepers. In this connection, District Animal Husbandry Deputy Commissioner Dr Deepak Mule and District Superintending Agriculture Officer Sagar Khatkale visited the livestock keepers' farm in Kanagra today. They saw the sugarcane silage experiment for themselves and guided the farmers and livestock keepers concerned.

Dr Mule said silage made scientifically from sugarcane could be a nutritious fodder option for animals. Particularly in summer or in drought conditions, when green fodder is scarce, properly prepared silage can be included in the animals' diet.

Silage helps improve animals' digestion and can also help maintain steady milk production. However, because sugarcane has a high sugar content, silage made from it must be given to animals only as part of a balanced diet and under the guidance of veterinary experts. The importance of following the right process, storage and nutritional balance while preparing fodder was also stressed on the occasion.

Sugarcane-growing farmers in the district are being encouraged to make silage using the right technique. The agriculture and animal husbandry departments are working together to bring modern fodder-making techniques to farmers.

Mr Khatkale said the emphasis is on promoting fodder processing industries with the help of the agriculture department's various schemes and farm mechanisation. He said it is important to adopt modern technology so that farmers can make good use of available agricultural resources and get fodder for their livestock. If sugarcane growers turn to making silage with the right processing technique, it could give them one more option for fodder management.

The Kanagra livestock keepers used the available sugarcane at low cost to make good-quality silage using silage culture and a scientific process. During the on-site inspection of the experiment, Dr Mule of the animal husbandry department and Mr Khatkale of the agriculture department specially praised the livestock keepers.

The officials said that in drought conditions, instead of depending only on traditional fodder sources, it is necessary to experiment with making alternative fodder from available resources. They said the Kanagra livestock keepers have taken the initiative in this direction and such experiments can show other farmers the way.

Many farmers in the district depend on dairying and livestock rearing along with farming. If irregular rain hurts fodder crop yields, gathering enough fodder for livestock through the year becomes a challenge. In such a situation, proper planning, processing and storage of available fodder are especially important. If sugarcane silage can be stored properly, it can give livestock keepers an option in the days of green fodder shortage, and adopting fodder processing technology can also improve planning of livestock feed.

Officials of the agriculture and animal husbandry departments, local veterinary officer Mrs Waghmare, agriculture assistants and a large number of farmers and livestock keepers from nearby were present during the visit. The officials spoke to the livestock keepers present and guided them on making sugarcane silage.

An appeal was made on the occasion that farmers in the district should make proper use of available fodder resources to deal with the likely shortage, and adopt the sugarcane silage technique scientifically and under expert guidance. With farmers worried about fodder for livestock amid the drought threat, the Kanagra livestock keepers' experiment is a source of hope. It is expected to inspire other livestock keepers in the district as well.