Dimension:
Among different perennial cultivated grasses, Napier - bajra hybrid is most suitable for bunds of irrigated areas and Tri-specific hybrid (TSH), guinea grass, anjan grass and nandi grass are suitable under rainfed conditions.

Target area:
All categories of farmers specially marginal and small farmers in different agro climatic regions of India

Impact:
Fodder yield recorded from different farm demonstrations indicated 1.75 to 2.50 kg green fodder per meter per cut and on an average in 4 cuttings 7.0- 11.0 q green fodder per 100 metre bund length is possible in a year. Besides additional farm productivity, it also works as a guard crop for main crop, reduces runoff loss of water and controls soil erosion. Now this technology has been disseminated in 600 farmers field in different rural parts of country through Adarsh Chara Gaon (100), Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (200) and NGOs (50), Gaushalas (10) , NIFTD programme ( National Initiative on fodder technology demonstration) and KVKs (240) etc.

States suitable for adoption of this technology:
All states of India

Crops (Varieties):
NB hybrid (IGFRI-6, 10 and NB 21) / Guinea grass (BG-1, 2 & 3, Hamil)

Sowing/ planting time:
Mid February – July

Seed rate and spacing (cm)
400 rooted slips per 100 meter length of field boundary with a spacing of 50 x 50 cm and due to perennial in nature, up to 4-5 years there is no need of further planting and only gap filling and tussock dressing is required)

No. of irrigations:
As per irrigation to main crop.

Nutrient management
Additional fertilization not required

Harvesting schedule
1st cut: 75 – 80 days after planting and subsequent cuts at 30– 40 days after harvesting

Per ha/ per unit cost of production and returns:
Cost of production Rs 35 per quintal green fodder and Net return Rs 1800 per bund area of 1 ha with BC ratio of 1.8.

Targeted farmers:
All category of farmers

Days for which fodder will be available :
During whole crop growing period of the year in south India and except winter months in north India.

Possibility of seed production and quantity:
2nd year onward 15000 rooted slips of perennial grass

Estimated expenditure per demonstration (Specify the unit area of demonstration):
Rs 1000 per demo (400 metre running length of bund).

Availability of planting material for supply:

• ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi-284003
• Centers of AICRP on forage crops in different SAUs and ICAR Institutes.
• Central and State Agriculture Universities

Other sources like KVKs, BAIF, etc.