Area under fodder production in India

Fodder crops are the plant species that are cultivated and harvested for feeding the animals in the form of forage (cut green and fed fresh), silage (preserved under anaerobic condition) and hay (dehydrated green fodder). The total area under cultivated fodders is 8.3 million ha on individual crop basis. Sorghum amongst the kharif crops (2.6 million ha) and berseem (Egyptian clover) amongst the rabi crops (1.9 million ha) occupy about 54% of the total cultivated fodder cropped area. The area under permanent pastures has been declining over the years and the trend could well continue in the future. Due to overgrazing, the productivity of the pastures has been declining too. The area under fodder crops has almost remained static for the last 3-4 decades. This is mainly for want of proper land cover data reporting. However, the area under fodder crops has increased in peri-urban areas that have developed as milk sheds under intensive dairy production systems during the past years Sizeable amount of fodder demand is fulfilled through vast grasslands and rangelands. Any positive or negative change in its position will have impact on several environmental issues. Similarly, the increase in livestock population will also affect the availability of organic wastes which in turn can boost the agricultural production.

Forage crops grown and their area and productivity in India

S. No.	Crop	Botanical name	Area (’000 ha)	Green fodder productivity (tonnes/ha)
1.	Berseem (Egyptian clover)	Trifolium alexandrinum	1900	60-110
2.	Lucerne (Alfalfa)	Medicago sativa	1000	60-130
3.	Senji (Sweet clover)	Melilotus indica	5	20-30
4.	Shaftal (Persian clover)	Trifolium resupinatum	5	50-75
5.	Metha (Fenugreek)	Trigonella foenum-graecum	5	20-35
6.	Lobia (Cowpea)	Vigna unguiculata	300	25-45
7.	Guar (Clusterbean)	Cyamopsis tetragonaloba	200	15-30
8.	Rice bean	Vigna umbellata	20	15-30
9.	Jai (Oat)	Avena sativa	100	35-50
10.	Jau (Barley)	Hordeum vulgare	10	25-40
11.	Jowar/Chari (Sorghum)	Sorghum bicolor	2600	35-70
12.	Bajra (Pearl millet)	Pennisetum glaucum	900	20-35
13.	Makka (Maize)	Zea mays	900	30-55
14.	Makchari (Teosinte)	Zea mexicana	10	30-50
15.	Chara sarson (Chinese cabbage)	Brassica pekinensis	10	15-35