Management of forage crops for smallholders in S.E. [southeast] Asia and its possible implications on the quality of farm land
2001
Roothaert, R.L. | Samson, J. | Kerridge, P.C. (Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, P.O. Box 7777, Domestic Airport Office, Metro Manila (Philippines)
Improved germplasm has been tested in 25 sites using farmer participatory approaches, resulting in forage technologies that spread to more than 1700 households without structural dissemination efforts. The Forages for smallholders Project, convened by the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, has carried out research on the use of improved fodder species in S.E. Asian farming systems since 1995. The majority of farms are smaller than 3 ha. Although livestock is an integral part of most small scale farming systems, fodder cultivation is concentrated in the uplands. The main diet of cattle consists of grass and low quality farm by-products and is generally deficient in protein. Improved forages can provide high quality green foliage during the dry season when native grasses have dried up and other feed sources have been depleted. The role that tree fodder plays at present in the farming systems varies enormously; in LAO PDR, cutting and carrying Bauhinia spp. for cattle during the dry season is a common practice; in Bali, Indonesia, fodder of Sesbania spp. is intensively used. In the majority of farms fodder species are planted in linear arrangements, which contribute to considerable reduction in soil and water erosion. In addition, leguminous fodder trees add nitrogen to the system and make leached nutrients available again
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