ICRISAT
Happenings Newsletter
4 September 2015 No. 1691
Photos: S Punna, ICRISAT
Workshop participants visit the ILRI research station at ICRISAT, India.
Millets and sorghum play a crucial role in interlinking agriculture, dairy and fisheries sectors
T
he role of millets and sorghum in providing quality feed and minimizing input costs in dairy, poultry and fisheries sectors was emphasized at a workshop conducted for farmers of Andhra Pradesh, India. Given that for dairy farming, feed cost constitutes 70% of milk production cost, reduction of feed cost is vital and a localized fodder solution was sought by farmers who attended the meet. Interacting with farmers, Mr SP Tucker, Special Chief Secretary, Planning Department, and Agricultural Production Commissioner, Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP), asked them to develop an action plan as the department is preparing a credit plan of ` 1.25 trillion (US$ 18.93 billion) for the next five years. https://youtu.be/FCTr4a_A0Cg Dr Manmohan Singh, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, GoAP, said that an integrated farming systems approach needs to be promoted vigorously in all districts to face present and future fodder issues. He pointed out that the primary cost to a farmer in maintaining milk yields depends upon the type of feed and the cost of feed. https://youtu.be/rsoFTG2Ie9k The important role that fisheries play in improving livelihoods of farmers and also enhancing human health through improved nutrition was highlighted by Dr Rama
Sankar Naik, Commissioner Fisheries, GoAP. He expressed concern over the quality of seed, feed and infrastructure in the state. Key problems in the three sectors were identified by farmers and an action plan was developed based on their suggestions. Smallholder farmers urged officials to treat dairy as part of agriculture and not as a separate industry. The role of fodder crops in changing climate scenarios was emphasized by Dr Peter Carberry, Deputy Director General - Research, ICRISAT. He said that ICRISAT’s mandate crops, millets and sorghum, play a crucial role in interlinking agriculture, dairy and fisheries sector. With increasing pressure on farmers to produce more fodder for sustaining livelihood, the government plays a key role in strengthening the white revolution in the state, he said. He also compared the Australian and Indian dairy revolution and how these countries play a vital role in the global context. Dr Ramana Murthy, Managing Director, AP Dairy Development Cooperative Federation, expressed concern over the high production cost of milk in Andhra Pradesh compared to other states and talked about the need for enhancing efficiency of milk distribution. to page 2...4