ICAR-IISWC Fodder Management VKSA 2025
Dehradun, June 11, 2025:
Under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA)-2025, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC), Dehradun launched a special campaign to raise awareness among farmers on scientific fodder production, its sustainable use, and conservation of resources like forests and community lands.
Key Highlights and Impact of the Campaign
On the 14th day of the campaign, held on June 11, 2025, six expert teams from the institute visited 18 villages in Dehradun district. These teams were led by Dr. Ambarish Kumar, Dr. Lekhchand, Dr. Vibha Singhal, Dr. Raman Jeet Singh, Dr. Indu Rawat, and Dr. Anupam. The teams assessed challenges related to kharif crops and fodder management and provided location-specific scientific advice to more than 820 farmers.
Scientific Suggestions for Fodder and Grassland Management
Farmers were advised to plant hybrid Napier grass on field bunds during the monsoon. This technique helps prevent waterlogging and soil erosion, encourages sediment retention, and ensures the availability of green fodder for 4–5 months if managed properly.
Additionally, planting grasses and fodder plants on forest fringes and community lands was recommended to reduce pressure on natural ecosystems and benefit livestock.
Addressing Wildlife Attacks and Fodder Crisis
To combat wildlife attacks and fodder shortages, farmers were encouraged to collectively plant fruit trees like mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), and peach (Prunus persica), along with fodder-yielding trees like Bhimul (Grewia optiva) and Subabul (Leucaena leucocephala).
Local panchayats were sensitized to promote soil and water conservation and afforestation activities under MGNREGA, aiming for ecological restoration at the community level.
In irrigated areas, cultivation of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) was recommended to address fodder shortages.
Farmers were also advised to adopt rotational grazing and stall feeding (cut-and-carry feeding) to ensure sustainable use and minimize wastage of resources.
Fodder Conservation and Access to Information
Various fodder conservation techniques were demonstrated, including:
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Silage making
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Use of crop residues
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UMMB (Urea Molasses Mineral Blocks)
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Proper fodder storage
These methods aim to ensure year-round fodder availability and palatability.
To ensure timely access to government schemes and advisories, farmers were encouraged to register their mobile numbers with extension workers. They were also introduced to e-NAM (electronic National Agricultural Market) to improve crop marketing and communication.
Coordination and Objectives of the Campaign
Dr. M. Muruganandam, Principal Scientist, played a key role in providing problem-specific consultation and documenting outreach efforts through daily updates.
The campaign, running from May 29 to June 12, 2025, is coordinated under the guidance of Dr. M. Madhu (Director) by Dr. Bankey Bihari, Dr. M. Muruganandam, Anil Chauhan (CTO), Engineer Amit Chauhan (ACTO), Praveen Tomar (STO), and Meenakshi Pant.
The primary objective of VKSA-2025 is to empower farmers with scientific knowledge, promote sustainable and diversified agriculture, and develop climate-resilient cropping systems to ensure a secure agricultural future.
