Jammu/May,9: A meeting of Chief Animal Husbandry Officers of Jammu Division was held here Tuesday under the chairmanship of Director Animal Husbandry to review functioning of the department.
The meeting had detailed deliberation on various issues related to further streamlining of working and progress of the department besides discussing certain flaws in the existing system.
Progressive farmers from the division also attended the meeting and were educated about growing fodder through hydroponics.
Pertinently, hydroponics is a technique of growing fodder round the year in an enclosed structure on racks without the use of soil. An enclosed polylab erected on 50 sq. metres of land can produce fodder equivalent to that grown on 2.5 acre of land. It also uses only 5-10% water than conventional fodder. The fodder so grown is nutritious, contains more fat, protein and nitrogen and increases the milk production by upto 80%. A minimum investment of Rs. 30,000 can take care of fodder requirements of at least 10 Dairy animals and can have an average saving of Rs 80,00 on fodder cost annually. In a state where there is 51% shortage of fodder, this technique could prove to be a trail blazer in livestock care and management.
The farmers interacted with the experts who acquainted them with different aspects of using hydroponics.
