National Pasture and Fodder Research Program – Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)

Introduction

As a national research institution, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has initiated disciplinary approach to manage the research programs at national level and coordinate and monitor various research programs implemented by various government and non -government agencies involved in agricultural research in the country. The National Pasture and Fodder Research Program is one of the five disciplinary commodity of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). This program was established in 1971-1972. Since its creation, the program is involved in preparing national priority programs, implementing them in different agro ecological regions through NARC’s Directorates of Agricultural Research Agricultural Research Stations, National Outreach Research Centre and through farmers’ participation.

Livestock and NTFP’s plays an important role in the Nepalese farming systems and it is emerging as a viable enterprise in the country. Livestock particularly, the dairy buffalo, improved cow and goat farming are becoming popular among the small and marginal farmers in the rural areas. Despite the major role of livestock in the overall economic upliftment of the majority of the farmers, as envisaged by APP, livestock research and development sector has not received proper attention as far as resource allocation from the government to enhance the research capabilities of the individuals involved in livestock research and development in the past. On the contrary this sector is contributing nearly one third of the total agricultural gross domestic production (AGDP) and about 15 percent to the National Gross Domestic Production (NGDP).

Livestock population per household and density of ruminant animals is highest in Nepal and the productivity is the lowest. The major reason for such low productivity from the animals is considered mainly due to fodder unavailability in required amount and low genetic potential of the native breed followed by poor breeding practice. It has been estimated that the annual animal feed deficit at the national level is as high as 36 percent. The feed situation is further worsened due to erratic distribution of rainfall, seasonality in green fodder availability, lack of appropriate technologies available for production and conservation of quality feeds and fodder in the country. In the greatly accelerated livestock growth regime of the APP, fodder of essential quality has become an increasingly important constraint to growth. The high growth rates of APP will require greater use of high quality forage/fodder and purchased concentrates, along with improved grasslands, including those adjacent to forestlands. With this change, research on pasture, fodder and agro-forestry and on animal improvement has become all the more important.

Major mandates

The overall mandate of this division is to generate forage, pasture and agro-forestry management technologies to enhance livestock production and productivity.

Assess periodically the problems and potentials of pasture/fodder and agroforestry production in different agro ecological zones and prioritize the research agenda in collaboration with RARS’s, ARS’s, and Extension Agencies.
Take leadership in the development and conduction of research in forage, silvi-pasture, horti-pasture, agro-forestry and livestock interface and collaborate with RARS’s, ARS’s, Commodity Research Programs and other Disciplinary Divisions.
Provide technical leadership and support to RARS’s, ARS’s and Commodity Research Programs in pasture/fodder and agroforestry research.
Obtain specialized technical support from the concerned Disciplinary Divisions of NARC.
Develop pasture and forage seed, saplings production technologies and produce foundation seed and saplings.
Provide technological package and training, support to extension agency and private pasture and forage seed producers.
Train scientists, technical officers and technicians in pasture/fodder and agroforestry research.
Establish strong linkages with National, Regional, International Pasture/Fodder and Agroforestry Research Institutes and Universities for exchange of expertise and materials.
Publish research findings and extension recommendation on appropriate pasture/fodder and agroforestry production technologies and collaborate with extension agency for wider uptake, scaling up and dissemination.
Act as a national repository for the information on pasture/fodder and agroforestry production technologies.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the program is to contribute increase the productivity of animals through the development of site specific, appropriate pasture, fodder and agro-forestry production, utilization and conservation technologies. The specific objectives of the Division are:

To identify the major pasture/forage and agro-forestry related problems in different agro ecological regions.
To identify potential native pasture and forage species prevalent in different agro ecological regions.
To develop national pasture, forage and agro-forestry research programs, prioritize, implement, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the national pasture/forage and agroforestry programs.
To test exotic suitable pasture/forage species and agroforestry models in different regions.
To review the national pasture/forage and agroforestry research programs and activities regularly.
To evaluate the current status of various pasture/forage and agroforestry research programs and activities.
To present the results, achievements in pasture/forage and agroforestry research being carried out.
To collect and recommend appropriate pasture/forage and agroforestry technologies for different agro ecological regions.
To coordinate with other line agencies/individuals to develop national pasture/forage and agroforestry research system and
To provide necessary services to various client on pasture/forage and agroforestry system.

Major Achievements

Kamdhenu and Netra variety of Oat have been released which are suitable for low and mid hill region of Nepal.
For winter fodder production cvs Kent, Swan, Omihi are found most promising for high hills. For mid hill region, Caravile, Kent, Swan, Charisma, 83 INC 19 G3, Taiko, 346/2,323 O2 are most suitable cvs of oat. Similarly in Terai, Swan, Amuri, Awapuni, Charisma, Taiko are found suitable variety of oat.
It is recommended that for higher quality and quantity fodder production oat must be sown with winter legumes such as vetch and pea in all agro ecological zones. This combination provides 80 % more yield than control.
Proper inoculation and fertilizer application is important for higher fodder legume production. Small pea, Bold pea and Vetch provides 36 % more yield if properly inoculated and under fertilizer application.
For summer fodder production, Teosente, Bajra, Maize, Sorghum with Soyabean, Cowpea, Red bean and Horse gram produced higher fodder.(summer dry period).
The promising dual purpose maize cultivars recommended for green stalk and more seed yield are NKP x 95-81, NKP x 95-10, Bahar and EV II .
It is recommended that Amrisho cultivation on 100 running meter area could give an average income of Rs. 2000 per annum and this provides an opportunity to alleviate fodder shortage and poverty reduction.
Dual purpose Amaranthus, Amrisho and Napier were recommended to be planted on the terrace riser of Bariland.
In the mid hills the forage combination recommended for terrace riser improvements are Napier (44.4 ton/ha), Napier+Desmodium(40.4 ton/ha) and Napier+Setaria+Desmodium (57.4 ton/ha)
The fodder production of forage legume is found significantly affected by proper inoculation and fertilizer application.
For grain and fodder purpose amaranthus, the cultivars Hypochondrus 825-1023, Hypochondrus 825-1024, Hybrid 825-1004 and GA 5025 and Crentus R 104 are found most suitable for mid hill and high hill regions.
Different native grass/legume species are identified for their productiveness at different agro ecological zones.
Molasses grass and Stylo legume were recommended to grow in leasehold sites and their proper time of sowing (first week of May to second week of
June) was recommended.
The technology generated upto 1700 masl altitude under proper pit size and management (50cmx50cmx50cm + Top soil) and starter fertilizer (250 gm DAP + 150gm sulpher per pit). The results of three years have shown that Bauhinia purpurea, Leucaena leucocephala species have attained growth over 2-3 meter in three years and over 68 % survability.
For silvipastural system different fodder tree and grass/ legume species were identified at different location.
Dhudilo, Faledo, Chuletro and Bains are found better for nursery raising. The survivability percentage of seedlings of Dhudilo was more(85%) in wall raising than direct seedling in polythene bags(75%).
Khasru is found highest fodder producer 117 kg/tree/year and low producer are found Painyu and Kimbu 35-50 kg/tree/year.
For utilizing of Terrace riser, Napier, Setaria, Desmodium species are good for grass production as well as Pigeon pea, Sunhamp, Ipil Ipil, Napier, Vetivar, hedge desmodium are good for hedge row establishment on sloppy land.
In agroforestry system Multipurpose Tree species such as Tanki, Ipil Ipil, Koiralo, Kimbu, Badahar are good and commonly used by the farmers.
Murpa, Sinmurpa, Angeri, Dhade, Lek gurans, Pra, Oryzopsis spp, Piptanthus, Poisonous plants are identified around in different pasture land of Rasuwa and Mustang.
For high hill region 9 cvs of Rye grass are recommended for green matter and seed productive yields.
The combination of white clover, rye grass and cocks foot is good for highest green matter production.
For degraded forest land improvements minimum tillage practices with inoculation and starter fertilizer and lime / pallating is recommended which has given 30 times more yield.

Winter Fodders
Promising oat cultivars recommended are for high hills Kent and Swan, for mid hills and terai 346/2 and 32302, Caraville, Canadian, Awapuni, Taiko, Amouri and 83 INC 19 G3.
It is recommended that for higher quality and quantity fodder production oat must be sown with winter legumes such as vetch and pea in all agro-ecozones. This combination provides 80% more yield than control.

Use of Inoculum
Proper inoculation and fertilizer application is important for higher fodder legume production. Small pea, Bold pea and Vetch provides 36% more yield if properly inoculated and under fertilizer application.

Summer Fodder
In the midd hills and Terai the forage combination recommended are Teosinte + Redbean (28 ton/ha), Maize + Soyabean (22 ton/ha), Sorghum + Soyabean (21 ton/ha) and Bajra + Cowpea (19 ton/ha).
The promising dual purpose maize cultivars recommended for green stalk and more seed yield are NKP x 95-81, NPK x 95-10, Bahar and EV II.

Amriso
It is recommended that Amriso cultivation on 100 running meter area could give an average income of Rs. 2000 per annum and this provides opportunity to alleviate fodder shortage and poverty reduction.

Terrace Riser Improvement
In the mid hills the forage combination recommended for terrace riser improvements are Napier + Desmodium (40.4 Ton/ha) Napier + Setaria + Desmodium (57.4 ton/ha).

Hedgerow spps
In the mid hills The Sunhemp, Napier, Pigeon pea are found suitable as hedgerow spps.

Temperate Species
In the high hills recommended cultivar of Rye Grass and Ellett (28 ton/ha), Belfort (27.5 ton/ha), Sommora (27.2 ton/ha) and combination of pasture species recommended are White Clover + Rye Grass (17.01 ton/ha), White Clover + Cocks foot (20.64 ton/ha), White Clover + Rye Grass + Cooks foot (28.70 ton/ha).

Degraded lands Has Potential To Higher Forage Production
Upto 1700 masl, open degraded grasslands and shurb lands can be improved through technology generated under minimum tillage and line sowing, use of starter fertilizer. (34:15:0 kg/ha), inoculation and lime pelleting.
Using this cost effective technology (cost NRs. 10000/ha Vs previously calculated NRs. 33000/ha) has given an average production of 34 mt GM/ha Vs Original vegetation production of 1 mt/ha and an additional net profit of fodder value of about NRs.9800 . In addition to that soil fertility is increased due to inclusion of lugume species and reduction in soil erosion has been obtained by over 70 % plant coverage on barren land.
Over 1700 masl (in the high altitude belt) areas and for the moist sites, under minimum tillage, lime coating, inoculation, proper sowing depth and use of starter fertilizer 34:75:0 + Sulphur 30 kg/ha, White clover (Trifolium repens cv Khumaltar) has potential to produce 5 ton GM per ha under occasional grazing.

Fodder Tree Production
The technology generated upto 1700 masl altitude under proper pit size and management (50 cmx50 cmx50 cm +Top soil ) and starter fertilizer (250 gm DAP + 150 gm sulphur per pit )
The results for three years have shown that Bauhinia purpurea, Leucaena leucocephala species have attained growth over 2-3 meter in three years and over 68 % survavility.

Winter Fodder Production For More Farm Income Generation
The technology generated through proper combination of grass and legume seed (60:40), proper species combinations (oat + vetch), manure and fertilizer placement behind the plough (FYM 10 ton + 40:100:0, :NPK kg/ha).
This technology brings about a total profit of about Rs.2538 per month, deduction of the cultivation cost and managerial expenses @ 1000 per month, a net profit of about 1538 per month could be obtained by a milking buffalo and utilizing an arable land of 600 m2.
Oat + Vetch combination gives more seed i.e. 1.8 ton/ha compared to oat; 1.8 ton/ha. However, oat + pea has produced 1.7 ton seed/ha. This technology brings about a total profit of about Rs. 15000 per year utilizing an arable land of 600 m2.

Pasture Legume Seed Production For More Farm Income Generation
Degraded land could well be a source of seed for its sustainable development as well as a source of income. For this purpose, in the low altitude belts (400-1200 masl) of three districts a simple and affordable technology is generated as; suitable species Stylosenthes guianensis cv Cook at the rate of 5 kg/ha, lime pelleting (10 kg/ha) inoculation (250 gm rhizobium /5 kg), line sowing under minimum tillage practice (30 cm turf cultivation and 70 cms gap i.e. one line per metre), application of DAP @ of 80 kg/ha and borax 8 kg per ha.
Results is promising and an average of 30 kg seed/ha/yr can be obtained. A net profit of NRs 4415 can be obtained in the first year while NRs 10000 per hectare could be obtained from second harvest year. At present, this technology has been very useful to the farmers and is a important source of income generation.

Future Researchable Areas

Survey of livestock feeding system of the clients.
Testing of different forage species and their conservation practices to over come fodder problem in scarcity periods.
Livestock – fodder interface study to reduce milk and meat production cost.
Develop the forage cultivation technologies where double rice production is being taken. (Berseem/Shaftal/Oat +Vetch)
Identify the potentiality of native forage species at different eco zones.
Four Napier species should be tested at all eco zones.
Forage germplasms maintenance, herbarium / cold storage / quality seed testing.
Special attention should be given towards creation and recruitment of scientists and technicians in forage breeding, forage botany, forage pathology, forage entomology, forage seed production and forage agronomy.
Participatory research should be initiated with close collaboration of clients.
Stressed should be given on toxic plants identification and their toxicity analysis.
Productivity, carrying capacity, stocking rate and plant composition of natural grazing land of each ecozone.

Researchers

Dr. Ram Ghimire, Senior Scientist (S-4), Coordinator
Mrs. Sunita Sanjyal, Scientist (S1)
Mrs. Sujaya Upreti, Scientist (S1)

Contact Address

National Pasture and Fodder Research Program
Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
PO Box 11660, Kathmandu
Tel: 977-1-5523038 (O) Fax: 977-1-5542903
Email: pfrd25@gmail.com
Website: www.narc.gov.np