In the cold weather, farmers face difficulty in providing nutritious fodder to their animals. In such situations, farmers in Uttar Pradesh have started cultivating a new type of fodder. Many farmers in the state are currently cultivating Azolla fern. They are feeding this to their animals. The benefit of this is that all essential nutrients are reaching the animals and their development is also happening. This fodder contains more than 25 percent protein, which is beneficial for livestock in every way. So if you also feed this fodder to your animals, they will benefit greatly.
According to experts, many villages in Uttar Pradesh, from Meerut to Ballia along the Ganges River, are associated. From Meerut, Bijnor, Bulandshahr, Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, Fatehpur, Prayagraj, Koshambi, Mirzapur, Gazipur, to Chapra in Bihar, these villages are linked. People in these villages are now cultivating Azolla fodder on a large scale. Its cultivation is being done throughout the year. Where there is water stagnation, there is more production of Azolla.
According to experts, Azolla is considered the best fodder in winters. Azolla is a type of aquatic fern that grows on the surface of water. They explained that it survives on moist land. For the development of Azolla, it requires a water level of 5 to 10 centimeters above the land surface. A temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius is considered suitable for its growth. This provides animals with highly nutritious food.
A boon for livestock: It has been observed that the health of livestock consuming Azolla grass has improved significantly compared to other livestock. The main reason for this is that Azolla contains more than 25 percent protein compared to other fodders. This is much higher than any other fodder. This fodder can be fed to all animals including cows, buffaloes, and goats. This provides them with all the necessary nutrients.
How to grow Azolla: Farmers can grow Azolla fodder in any empty space. For this, first prepare a shaded area, 60 feet long, 10 feet wide, and two feet deep. These areas are covered with at least 120 gauge polyethylene sheets. After this, spread about 100 kilograms of fertile soil in the area. Then, mix 5 to 7 kilograms of old cow dung in 15 liters of water to make a solution. Fill the area with 500 liters of water, keeping the depth between 12 to 15 centimeters. After that, start the cultivation of Azolla.
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