A. Venkateshwara Rao, an enterprising farmer of Allipuram village in Khammam urban mandal, found a viable and affordable solution the fodder needs of his livestock, including sheep, in the eco-friendly hydroponics technology.
Mr. Rao, a distinguished oil palm cultivator, forayed into sheep farming a couple of months ago to augment his farm income.
In pursuit of a financially viable solution to meet the fodder needs of over hundred sheep, he set up a hydroponic fodder system under shed net at his sheep farm last month.
Motivated by the impressive results, he is now toying with the idea of setting up another system for cows in his cattle yard.
“It proved immensely useful in producing nutrient rich maize green fodder in a cost-effective way in little over a week,” says Venkateshwar Rao.
“I had set up hydroponics fodder unit at a cost of Rs. 40,000 with the guidance of agriculture scientist Krishna Murthy of Kurnool district. The improvised version of the system is simple to use and economically viable,” he says.
The shed net creates conducive atmosphere to keep the temperature low and allow the seeds to sprout and grow into green fodder in specially designed trays without electricity.
It offers a viable solution to multiple challenges such as lack of suitable land and labour to grow green fodder in the conventional mode.
