"Kashmir's Innovative Approach: Solving the Fodder Challenge Quietly and Effectively"

Livestock rearing in Jammu and Kashmir incurs a significant cost, with 75 per cent of the input cost attributed to feed and fodder. The region is home to a diverse range of animals including 31.45 lakh bovines, 45 lakh sheep and goats, 73 lakh backyard poultry birds and 2 lakh other animal species. Additionally, around 5 crore commercial broiler birds are being reared in the region.

The annual requirement for green fodder in Jammu and Kashmir is approximately 139 lakh metric tons, while the dry fodder requirement is around 58.53 lakh metric tons. Unfortunately, the availability of green and dry fodder is insufficient to meet the demand. In particular, there is a deficit of 40.93 per cent in fodder availability in the region, with a higher deficit of 48.63 per cent in the Kashmir division compared to 32.27 per cent in the Jammu division. Only 4 per cent of the total cultivable land is under fodder production at present.

In a bid to address the fodder challenge in the Kashmir valley, first Silage Bale Production Unit is established by our customer in the district Ganderbal, under the expert guidance of agriculture university. Silage is a type of fermented feed made from fresh green fodder crops. It is a nutritious and affordable feed option for livestock, and it can help to reduce the cost of livestock production.

The Silage Production Unit in Kashmir has a capacity to produce 10,000 metric tons of silage per year. The unit will source its raw materials from local farmers, and it will provide employment opportunities to local youth.

Benefits of Silage

Silage offers a number of benefits to livestock farmers, including:

• Improved nutrition: Silage is a highly nutritious feed that is rich in protein, energy, and vitamins. It can help to improve the health and productivity of livestock.

• Reduced costs: Silage is a relatively affordable feed option, especially when compared to other types of feed, such as commercial concentrates.

• Increased flexibility: Silage can be stored for long periods of time, which gives farmers more flexibility in terms of feeding their livestock.

• Reduced environmental impact: Silage production can help to reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution.

Conclusion

The setting up of the Silage Production Unit in Kashmir is a positive development for the livestock sector in the region. It is hoped that the unit will be successful in meeting the demand for silage from livestock farmers, and that it will help to reduce the cost of livestock production.

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