Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 28: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) conducted a practical demonstration on silage making in Guptapara village, South Andaman, on August 27, focusing on methods to conserve green fodder for use during periods of scarcity.
The programme was organised under UT-ATMA at the field of Prakash Das in Guptapara. Gram Pradhan of Guptapara Gram Panchayat Durlab Das attended the programme along with dairy farmers from the locality.
During the session, farmers were informed about the role of silage in preserving green fodder and its advantages as a feed for dairy animals. The programme also covered the basic principles involved in preparing and storing good-quality silage.
A practical demonstration was conducted by Abdul Enayat, Agriculture Demonstrator, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. Farmers were taken through the various stages of the preparation process, beginning with chopping green fodder.
The demonstration also covered the addition of required ingredients, proper compaction and removal of air before the fodder is packed. Participants were shown how to seal the material in polythene bags to facilitate fermentation and preserve the fodder.
The process demonstrated the importance of airtight packing in the preparation and preservation of silage. The session was designed to provide dairy farmers with practical knowledge of the steps required to prepare and store the feed.
Fodder stem cuttings were also distributed to interested farmers during the programme. The distribution was intended to encourage fodder cultivation and improve the availability of green fodder at the farm level.
The programme combined information on fodder conservation with a hands-on demonstration, giving participating farmers an opportunity to observe the preparation process and the steps involved in preserving green fodder.
The AH&VS Department’s demonstration focused on silage as a method of conserving fodder and covered both its use in dairy animal feeding and the basic requirements for producing and storing good-quality silage.
