The importance of forages and animal husbandry by intensification of research and developmental activities in increasing forage resources in the country is the need of the hour. The National Group Meeting of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops and Utilization was inaugurated at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Prof. K. Ramasamy, Vice Chancellor TNAU Chaired the meeting. He highlighted the importance of forages and animal husbandry. He stressed on intensification of research and developmental activities in increasing forage resources in the country. Need to work in holistic manner rather than piecemeal approach for solving the problems was highlighted.
Dr. I. S. Solanki, ADG (FFC), ICAR, Chief Guest, highlighted the various gaps in forage research and stressed upon the need of high yielding varieties with good nutritional quality and disease pest resistance. He further emphasised upon the need to develop and disseminate the technologies for the benefit of farmers and livestock owners.
Dr. R. V. Kumar, Director, ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi, Guest of Honour, stressed on dissemination of technologies related to fodder crops and highlighted the importance of cultivated forage as well as pasture crops to bridge the demand and supply gap of forage availability.
Dr. K. Ramaraju, Director of Research, TNAU presented achievements of University for the farming community especially in the forage crops. He informed about the significant contribution and success of TNAU varieties particularly CO-3, CO-4, CO(CN)5 in BxN hybrid in increasing the fodder availability in the country.
Dr. A. K. Roy, Project coordinator, AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization presented the brief introduction of AICRP Forage project, Salient achievements during XII plan period and summary of activities carried out in Kharif 2017 and results. He highlighted need of more collaboration between various agencies for awareness of different stakeholder.
Various publications were released during the occasion. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to AICRP forage crops centres CAU, Imphal and UAS (B), ZRS, Mandya.
Various technical sessions were held during 6th and 7th April. In an interactive session, progressive farmers and livestock keepers presented their view points.
Plenary session was held on 7th April, 2018 under the chairmanship of Dr. I. S. Solanki, ADG (FFC), ICAR. Rapporteurs of various sessions presented the recommendations which were approved after discussion and modifications.
