Effect of fodder demonstrations in rainfed conditions of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states of India

On-farm demonstrations of both sole and mixed fodder crops were conducted with 12 KVKs representing central (Lucknow, Sitapur II and Pratapgarh), eastern (Deoria, Basti and SRD Nagar) and western (Bareilly and Shahahjhanpur) regions in Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and Bageshwar, Haridwar and Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand. The farmers were trained at district level followed by executing the technological modules at farmers' field by the KVKs. In total 18.5 ha area was covered under demonstrations involving 151 farmers in different districts of U.P. and Uttarakhand during kharif 2014-2015. Sorghum (PC-6) + cowpea (BL-2) demonstrated in an area of 2.0 ha covering 28 farmers recorded green fodder yield of 332 q/ha which was 27% higher as compared to local check (261q/ha). MP Chari demonstrated at district Shahjahanpur and Deoria in an area of 4.0 ha covering 18 farmers showed green fodder yield of 466q/ha which was 16.5% higher as compared to local check (400q/ ha). The minimum yield advantage of 16% was obtained from sorghum (MP Chari) fodder. Study indicated that improved fodder varieties have potential to enhance the yield in all the crops demonstrated during kharif season.