High-yielding fodder variety launched

KOCHI: Good tidings await farmers and their livestock. The dairy development department has introduced its first ever highest yielding fodder variety CG-3 in Ernakulam that is garnering interest in the agricultural industry.The CG-3 which has achieved a trademark for higher produce in Tamil Nadu, produces 420 tonnes of fodder per hectare annually, at least 70 tonnes more than its counterparts, the CO-3 and CO-4, that produce only 320-350 tonnes per hectare every year. Also, the CG-3 does not wilt when grown in shade, unlike the rest of the fodder variety.At the programme conducted at Vadavukodu block in Karukapally panchayat on Friday, this new variety of fodder was distributed to the farmers. Deputy Director of Dairy development department V Unni said, “A selected group of progressive farmers were chosen. We have also distributed the seedlings to at least 280 farmers.”Ernakulam is the second district in the state to be introduced to this variety. “In a district, where less land is available for cultivation, the introduction of this high-yielding variety will benefit farmers as they can now produce more fodder in their fields,” Unni said.And for farmers in Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam and Piravom, who have a large number of coconut farms, the CG-3 can be grown along with coconut palms as an inter-cropping variety. The breed CG-3, also known as Coimbatore Ginny-Three, was initiated by  Tamil Nadu Agricultural University two years ago. This fodder variety was introduced in different parts of Palakkad district a year ago.Vinod Kumar, a farming entrepreneur in Palakkad who has benefited well with the produce, said, “CG-3 is special as it can be eaten fully by the cattle as it has a thinner stem.”Initially, though the farmers were apprehensive of the new breed, they have come to realise its benefits.Vinod said, “In the beginning when we first got the yield, we felt that the fodder was hard. But in the second yield, it had no such problems and we started getting more produce than the other varieties. Also, in terms of yielding period, the CG-3 is beneficial as it takes only 40 to 45 days.”The seedling will be available at the market for Re 1, Unni said.