Community Fodder Banks: a guideline by Tarun Deep Girdher

Do you need a Fodder Bank? What is a Community Fodder Bank?

Community Fodder Banks a guideline

How can a fodder bank be economically viable? How to make a good kalar? How to improve the quality of fodder? This booklet contains a guideline on how to form community fodder banks. The guideline is based on field experiment conducted at village level in Kutch to attain fodder security during drought years. This initiative is a part of the Drought Proofing Programme being implemented in Kutch. Based on the inputs received from the village committees, the guideline is prepared keeping in mind the social, economic and technical aspects of Community Fodder Bank. Although the guideline is only a starting point to revamp the traditional system of fodder storage at community level, it encourages us to rethink our assumptions on fodder security options during droughts. price: Rs.47/-

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by kutch nav nirman abhiyan

Kutch nav nirman Abhiyan Community Fodder Banks: a guideline published by

Drought proofing cell, Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan Dr. rajaram campus, Nr. St. Xavierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s english primary School, bhuj-Kutch 370001 Number of copies-1000 published in 2005 Any part of this guideline can be copied, reprinted, photocopied, cyclostyled or translated but with the due consent of the publisher of this booklet. acknowledgments

A word of gratitude to all those who have given their valuable inputs and suggestions to make these guidelines possible. We would like to pay our sincere gratitude to Ministry of Rural Development- Government of India, Department of Rural Development - Government of Gujarat and District Rural Develoment Agency - Kutch who encouraged us to undertake the Fodder bank program. special thanks for support from

Sahjeevan who has supported this guideline, Krishi Vigyan Kendra for giving their input for fodder enhancement; Vivekanand Research & Training Institute for providing information of ratadia Village, and the village committees. illustrations by designed by printed by

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radhaben Garva, Ujjhas Mahila Sangathan

SolutionOne design, Ahmedabad.

print Fast, Gandhigam.

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the DroughT ProoFing ProgrAmme

Community Fodder Banks a guideline Kutch in Gujarat is endowed with large tracts of arable land resources, which can support its human population as well as large animal population. This natural resource base has helped animal husbandry to grow as an important source of livelihood in the region. However, this is subjected to the vagaries of nature which as a phenomenon is part and parcel of Kutch. Drought repeats itself thrice in a cycle of five years. In normal rainfall year the region produces sufficient quantity of surplus fodder. However, with no storage techniques in practice, the villagers confront shortage of fodder as a major concern during drought years. For the survival of their cattle, the cattle owners either have to migrate with their animals or leave them in Panjrapoles. Community Fodder Bank is one of the steps towards making the village self reliant in terms of fodder during drought season. This system is based on the traditional knowledge and practices of the community and is easily adaptable and replicable. In normal monsoon years, villagers can store the surplus fodder in the fodder bank. This fodder can be accessed by the villagers during drought years as per mutually agreed rules and regulations which will ensure sustainability of fodder bank. This will enable the villagers to cope with droughts and feed their animals with quality fodder available at reasonable prices in the village itself.

Not drought relief but drought proofing

Drought Proofing Cell kutch nav nirman abhiyan

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Do you need a Fodder Bank? If the below is true for your village – then you need a fodder bank. • Cattle have to migrate in droughts or be sent to cattle camps. • There is little or no grazing land in your village. • There is no practice of community storage of fodder in your village.

What is a Community Fodder Bank? When a group of farmers/animal owners come together to jointly purchase farm straw or grass in a good monsoon year, store it and then sell it to its members in a drought year such that they recover the original money to repeat the process again. This is a community fodder bank.

How can a fodder bank be economically viable? The viability of the fodder bank is based on the fact that in a good monsoon year the price of fodder is half to one third the cost of fodder in a drought (in good years the cost is between Rs. 40.00 to Rs. 60.00 and it rises to Rs. 120.00 to Rs. 160.00 per mound (40 kg) in a drought). So fodder bought and stored in a good year can be sold at 30% higher costs to recover the expenditure of transport, stocking and weight loss in a bad year. This cost is still 50 to 60% cheaper than fodder in the market.

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How much money do we need to set up a fodder bank? Village varnu in Rapar Taluka of Kutch has 114 cattle amongst 57 families. Most of the families do rain-fed farming. So after the monsoon and crop harvest in November-December (KartakMaghsar) they store the straw in their homes. If the next year in June (Jaith) monsoon fails, they are able to keep their animals alive by feeding them from their stored fodder and the little grass in the Gauchar until December to February (Maghsar to Maha) of the drought year. But come January (Pous), their leaders start going to the Mamlatdar and TDO (Taluka Development Officer) to request them to send subsidized grass and open cattle camps. The richer farmers/cattle owners start buying fodder for Rs. 80.00 to Rs. 120.00 per mound in the open market. The other families prepare to take their cattle to places where grass is available. The poorest start doing distress selling of their animals. March to June (Fagan to Jaith) are the worst months for which a community fodder bank would have sustained their animals.

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Chronology of events explaining when and how fodder sho Ashadh - Shrawan - Bhadarvo - Aaso july

. august . september . october

in a good monsoon year

Ploughing after first rains

Harvest fodder crop

Ashadh - Shrawan - Bhadarvo - Aaso july

. august . september . october

in a bad year

During these months the cattle survive on the little grass that is available in the hills and goucher

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der shortage takes place Kartak - Magshar november

. december

Maha - Fagan - Chaitra Baishakh - Jeth february . march .

Pous january

april

Fodder cutting

Kartak - Magshar - Pous - Maha november

. december . january . february

They feed their cattle with self-stored fodder

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Self-procurement

. may . june

Open grazing

Fagan - Chaitra - Baishakh - Jeth march

. april . may . june

Fodder shortage forces the cattle grazers to migrate from the villages or shifts the cattle to Panjrapole or have to depend upon government cattle camps or outside support.

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So how much money is needed for varnu to sustain their animals from March to June? 114 cattle need 10kg of dry fodder daily for 4 months 114 Cattle x 10 kg x 120 Days = 1,36,800 kg. 1,36,800/40 kg = 3,420 mounds. (40 kg/mounds) The cost of jowar straw in an adjoining village Momaymora in November-December (Kartak-Maghsar) of the good monsoon year after the harvest was Rs. 47 per mound. Thus total cost of 3420 mounds at the rate of Rs. 47 per mound = Rs. 1,60,740.00 The transport cost for bringing the (jowar straw) from Momaymora will be Rs. 13 per mound. 50 trucks will be needed to transport 3,420 mounds of dry fodder (approximately 65-70 mounds in one truck). Thus the transportation cost of 3,420 mounds at the rate of Rs 13 per mound = Rs. 44,460.00. (Cost of purchasing the fodder includes the transportation cost). • Labour cost to make Kalar • Labour cost for fencing and weighing • Insurance against Fodder costs

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Rs. 7,500.00 Rs. 7,500.00 Rs. 12.50 per 1000 Rupees

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So the total cost of 3,420 Mounds of Jowar fodder is: Particulars

Amount

Fodder Cost

1,60,740.00

Transportation

44,460.00

sub total

2,05,200.00

Insurance costs* (205200/1000) x 12.50

2,572.00

Labour charges (for fencing, weighing and kalar formation) Total cost of purchase

15,000.00 2,22,772.00

*cost of insurance is calculated on subtotal (cost of fodder purchased and transportation cost.

Thus, approximate cost per mound is Rs. 65.00 Capital costs cost of base platform 12,000.00 weighing machine Total capital cost

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625.00 12,625.00

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fodder cost . 72% transportation cost . 20%

labour cost . 7% insurance . 1%

If the cost of one mound is Rs 65 then its break up is,

Fodder cost

Transportation cost

Labour cost

Insurance

The cost of 1 mound (40 kg) is Rs. 65.15

Rs. 47.00

Rs. 13.00

Rs. 4.40

Rs. 0.75

As it is a capital cost and it will be incurred only one time. therefore for calculating the selling price, these capital cost has not been taken into consideration.

However at least 10-15% of the fodder is wasted and the weight is lost. So 10% of 3420 = 342 . Cost of 342 Mounds = 342 x Rs. 65 = Rs. 22,230 So total revolving fund required to sustain 114 cattle through 4 months of drought. Rs. 2,22,772 + Rs. 22,230 = Rs. 2,45,002.00

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So the village committee of Varnu can sell the fodder at Rs. 2,45,002 / 3420=Rs. 71.50 per mound (approximately) and recover their revolving fund to repeat the process next year. To create an additional fund for village developmental activities, a profit of 10% or 15% can be charged over the selling price. This amount can be used to increase the size of the fodder bank. Therefore suggested selling price per mound is Purchasing price of the fodder (including transportation costs) Rs 60.00 Labour and Insurance Charge Rs 5.00

Difference between suggested selling price and purchasing price is Rs 22 per mound. It means that, in a drought year, villagers have to pay only 37% more amount in comparison to prices of fodder in the month of November. During acute drought, villagers of varnu had to pay Rs 160/mound to purchase jowar straw from the open market. However, because varnu has a community fodder bank, the villagers need to pay only Rs 82/mound of jowar straw to feed their cattle during drought. Thus, villagers who are members of community fodder banks, save around 50% on the market price of fodder prevailing during drought.

Assumed weight loss (10%) Rs 6.50 Selling price without profit Rs 71.50 Suggested Selling Price Rs 82.25 with approximately 15% profit

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Who will manage the community fodder bank (cfb)? The cfb will not be managed by the government or by any ngo but by the members of the cfb itself. To do this, a committee has to be formed. The Panchayat will form the committee through the following: Call a Gram Sabha and explain the concept of cfb. Outcome: resolution by Gram Sabha to make a cfb Make a cfb committee of 8-12 people. The entire committee must have people who will be members of the cfb. Care should be taken that atleast 50% are women and at least 1 member is from the Panchayat. Outcome: resolution by Gram Sabha for forming cfb Committee The CFB committee to meet to formulate membership fees and other rules for running the cfb. The Panchayat to call another Gram Sabha in which the cfb will present the membership rules. Outcome: villagers register their names and the number of cattle.

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The cfb committee will meet to prepare the budget and put up the proposal to the panchayat for sanction, with the following documents: 1. Resolution (Gram Sabha) to form a cfb 2. Resolution (Gram Sabha) forming cfb 2. committee 3. Membership rules and fees of cfb 4. List of members and number of cattle 5. Budget Outcome: on approval of the proposal the committee will open a cfb account with one Panchayat member and two cfb committee members (at least one to be a woman) as signatories. On receiving the fund in the cfb account, the cfb committee will form a sub committee for fodder procurement and Kalar making. After selecting the type and quality of fodder, the cfb members will meet to approve the price and procurement of fodder.

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In varnu the cfb Committee made the following rules. • Membership fee will be Rs.100 per member. • Contribution as 2 mounds or Rs.100 per cattle. • Donation 20Kg per cattle. • Kalar (a traditional system of preserving fodder) will be opened in drought season only. • Revolving fund will be created in the next eight years by keeping some profit margins. • Labour charges, insurance charges, platform cost, fencing and weighing cost will be taken as loan from lok-fada (people’s contribution) account and will be returned in the account during next eight years with an interest of 8% per year.

Careful Tips: • To get the best prices, time of purchase should be in December. • Site selection for fodder bank. • Quality of fodder (preferably thin, leafy and dry).

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What are the types of fodder and how can it be stored? Types of fodder which can be stored in open area 1. Crop residues (from agriculture field) Jowar (Sorghum)

palatability: Jowar, bajra and maize is consi-

dered to be poor quality fodder due to higher crude fiber content (CF) and low crude protein (CP) content. However, jowar is more palatable than other types of poor quality fodders like bajra etc. The palatability should be improved through various physical and chemical techniques.

Bajra (Bajra) Makka (Maize) 2. Grasses Dhraman (Cenchrus)

Grass is considered to be highly palatable due to higher protein content, but varies from species to species and the area where it grows. Some of grass species are considered to have low palatability like cenchrus. Its fibre content is very high.

Dhrabad (Sporobolus) Shiar Punch (Chloris)

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availability: Jowar, bajra and maize straw is

easily available as most of Gujarat is under dry land farming. Grass is available in natural grassland area like vidis/rakhals. (Most of the natural grass land area is under a state of moderate to high degradation). nutritive value: The crude protein of crop

residues and grasses ranges between 2.9%-4.0%, which is considered to be low. But jowar and maize are better than bajra straw. The crude fibre content is more than 50%. Nutritive value of grasses can be maintained by using appropriate storage techniques. The digestibility of roughage fodder jowar, bajra and maize is below 50% which is very low as compared to fodders like groundnut straw etc.

when to buy:

Jowar & Bajra: October - November Maize: February Grass:

October - November onwards up to February - March

storage: Storage problems occur only if we store

the fodder having higher moisture content. The required moisture content should be 10% - 15%. During monsoons, there is possibility of fodder getting damaged due to excess moisture content. Time of harvest, storage technique and duration of storage may affect the nutritive value of fodder.

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Types of fodder which can be stored in covered area 1. Gawar (Cluster bean) 2. Magfali (Groundnut) 3. Kapaas (Cotton) palatability: Groundnut and cotton straw

is considered to be good for digestion. Its digestibility ranges between 50% - 60% which is more palatable as compared to jowar, bajra and maize. The palatability can be improved by simple method of soaking it in water.

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nutritive value: The crude protein of

these fodder ranges between 5% - 9 % which is higher than that of jowar, bajra and maize. The digestibility of roughage fodder is more than 50%. availability: Gawar, groundnut and cotton

straw is easily available in Gujarat.

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Nutrient value of fodder in %

when to buy:

Gawar:

November - December

Groundnut straw: October - November and May - June Coconut straw:

March - May

Type of fodder

Digestibility

Jowar

4.1

Bajra

3.1

Maize

3.5

6.2 - 8.1

Groundnut

8.2

Cotton

6.3

Grasses

CP = Crude Protein. CF = Crude Fiber

storage: Storage problems occur only if we store

all figures in percentages

the fodder having higher moisture content. The required moisture content should be 10% - 15%. During monsoons, there is a possibility of fodder getting damaged due to water but if we store the fodder under covered area this problem can be easily overcome. This fodder should be put under shed or in godown for long term storage.

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How to preserve fodder? Setting up of fodder bank (Kalar – a traditional method of preserving fodder stock)

1. Identification of site for Kalar • Kalar should be set up in an open space and away from the residential area in a village. • It should be set up at a place where it could be easily seen by village people, e.g. a site which is near a talab (pond) or near the main path to the village, to avoid any damage to the Kalar. • Site should be selected such that there is no water logging.

2. Preparing base platform for Kalar • Dig a square pit of 1 ft depth under the ground. • Put a layer of agricultural waste of cotton and green gram and make plinth of 2 ft height. • Fill the inner space with sand. To avoid termite attack, salt is mixed with sand.

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3. Thrashing dry fodder and making layers • Dry fodder should be thoroughly thrashed to shed off the loose ends of straws. This helps in placing fodder compactly in layers to avoid air pockets. • Place the first layer of fodder to the height of 4-5 ft and let it settle down for a week. This will help the fodder to compress naturally. • Repeat step 2 and keep adding layers with a time gap of one week each, after each layer. • The last layer should be of any low quality fodder, since it remains exposed to atmosphere and is likely to be spoiled due to rain water. This layer is placed giving a slope on both the sides to make the top layer slanting. This is necessary to avoid rainwater retention on the top of the Kalar.

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4. Finishing â&#x20AC;˘ After setting up the layers, the outer surfaces of Kalar are made even by hitting it with wooden frames to give it a proper shape. This surfacing also helps in restricting rain water from sipping in between the layers during monsoons.

5. Fencing the Kalar â&#x20AC;˘ To protect the Kalar from cattle, theft or any damage, it is necessary to fence it with locally available bushes.

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case study of

Community Fodder Bank in Ratadia,

taluka Mandvi, Kutch

Mota Ratadia village, located in Mandvi taluka of Kutch has a population of 1200 people. The main communities residing in this village are Gadhvi, Darbar, Harijans and Patels. People in this village are mainly dependant on agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood. The cattle population in this village is 350. During drought years, the village had to mainly depend on Government relief and outside donations for fodder to feed their cattle. As an initiative to become self reliant in terms of fodder, in 1991 the Yuvak Mandal of this village took up the responsibility of setting up a system to collectively store fodder in good monsoon years, which could be used to feed cattle in drought years. The members of the group contributed to form an initial fund of Rs.1,700/-. Seeds were purchased from this fund and sowing was done in 40 acres of land given by few farmers of the village as their contribution. Few families contributed by providing tractors and other tools and labours. The grass thus grown was collected by village people through shramdaan and was stored in the form of kalar.

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The Mandal, over a period of 5 years generated funds through street plays, dramas and entertainment programmes in surrounding villages; and through contribution from the villagers. In the year 1996 the Mandal got formerly registered as Ratadiya Gram Vikas Mandal. In the same year, a platform for Kalar was built at the cost of Rs.1,00,000/-. Today the Mandal is self sustained with 27 acres of land and a tractor in the Mandal’s name. Their main source of income is through, • Selling of surplus fodder in the market. • Selling of other cultivated crops • Village contribution and donation.

• Selling of cow dung. • By giving the tractor on rent. • Government subsidies in the drought years.

Total assets of Ratadiya Gram Vikash Mandal in the year 2004. Particulars

Amount

Bank Balance

35,000

Total quantity of fodder store (in Rs.)

70,000

Tractor

1,20,000

Platform

1,00,000

27 Acres of Land

2,00,000

Fodder of Groundnut Total

28,000 5,53,000

In drought years, Ratadiya Mandal feeds 40 mounds of dry fodder and 150 mounds of green fodder daily to 350 cattle of the village.

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How to improve the quality of fodder? Straw is important to keep the cattle alive in drought years. However, straw has to be treated or supplemented with other nutrients if we want the animal to be healthy and produce milk. The following methods can be used to improve the quality and digestibility of our fodder in the fodder banks. Chaffing and conditioning. Usually cattle only eat the leafy part of fodder. The straw (stem) is hard and difficult to eat. Often the hard stems of straw are not eaten and thus wasted. However, it contains fibers that helps the animal digest better and increase their milk yields.

Chaffing With a small chaffing machine (Rs. 15,000/- for motor operated) cutting the straw into small pieces (2”) has many advantages. • The chaffed fodder occupies less space (3 to 4 times, compared to fodder banks). However it has to be stored in a closed room. • The chaffing reduces the wastage of straw. • The energy required to digest the straw is less for the animal, which results in better yield of milk.

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Conditioning One can also convert the cut (chaffed) fodder into powder with the grinding machine (costing Rs. 1,00,000). This has following advantages: • The powdered fodder uses less space (6 to 7 times compared to fodder banks) • Other nutrients like cotton cakes; stem portion of Bajra, ground nut, green gram, Gawar, husk of wheat and paddy can be mixed with grinded fodder. • The powered fodder can also be given a molasses treatment by mixing it with 10% molasses, 3% dust of rice bran, 1% urea and 1% salt. • This form of fodder is easy to digest.

Urea Treatment Urea treatment is a value addition of fodder. This treatment can be done in straw fodder as well as chaffed fodder. Procedure of urea treatment of fodder 1. Add 40% of water and 4% of urea to fodder and place it in layers.

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2. Make a circular heap of straw and cover it with the polythene for 21 days.

3. After 21 days it can be fed to the cattle.

Advantages of urea treatment: • Protein content is 9% more. • Easily digestible. • Increases milk production.

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Time line for setting up a CFB Activities | Week

Month 1 (15th oct-15th nov) Month 2 (15th nov-15th dec) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Month 3 (15th dec-15th jan) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Formation of fodder bank committee Fodder committee to make membership rule Registration of members & cattle Preparation of budget Gram Sabha to approve membership rule, budget & signing authority Sanction of budget Opening up of bank account Setting up of sub committees to check the quality and quantity of fodder Formation of kalar

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Kutch nav nirman Abhiyan better known

published by

acknowledgments

special thanks for support from

illustrations by designed by printed by

KutchNavNirmanAbhiyan - CFB booklet - inside - TITLE 2+3 > screen# 150lpi | sap green

| tarundeep - 9825024076 . may2005

the DroughT ProoFing ProgrAmme 30 village communities and 14 organizations and 4 Setus with Kutch Nav Nirman Abhiyan, have been in a collective effort to revive peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initiative in managing droughts, and eliminate community dependency on drought relief measures. This effort is being supported by the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of Gujarat, Department of Rural development and DRDA, Kutch. With a thrust on enhancing their domestic water, food and fodder security during times of drought, the 30 villages have, both, revived traditional systems and structures of water and fodder management, as also introduced new, decentralized systems of natural resource management. The drought proofing initiative has, to a large extent, been able to gradually change attitudes to drought, stabilize models of decentralized domestic water source even for consecutive droughts, increase productivity of dry land farming, improve fodder availability and increase irrigation potential.

as Abhiyan, is a network of 27 non-government organization spread across Kutch. This network has emerged as a response to the 1998 Kandla Cyclone, where it became a coordinating point between NGOs, a forum for advocacy and policy recommendations to the government and a platform for collective implementation. Abhiyan program focuses on capacity building of member organization and communities and disaster management.

Not drought relief but drought proofing

Drought Proofing Cell kutch nav nirman abhiyan

Dr. rajaram campus, Nr. St. Xavierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School, bhuj-Kutch 370001 tel. 02832 - 221 379, 221 382

Do you need a Fodder Bank? What is a Community Fodder Bank?

Community Fodder Banks a guideline

KutchNavNirmanAbhiyan - CFB booklet - outside - TITLE 4+1 > screen # 150lpi | sap green black | tarundeep - 9825024076 . may2005

by kutch nav nirman abhiyan