Awareness, utilization pattern and constraints of dairy farm women regarding fodder crops in Belgavi district of Karnataka, India

Abstract

Fodder production and utilization play a crucial role in sustaining livestock productivity and enhancing dairy income. The present study assessed the level of awareness, utilization patterns, and constraints faced by livestock farmers regarding fodder cultivation and management practices. The findings revealed that a majority of respondents (82.50%) had a medium level of awareness and an overall awareness index of 45.95. While respondents were highly aware that fodder seeds and planting materials are not commonly sold by seed companies (96.66%) and that fodder cultivation is cheaper than food crops (77.50%), awareness was considerably low regarding leguminous fodder benefits, soil fertility improvement, and milk yield enhancement. Traditional practices such as manual chaffing and direct feeding were moderately adopted, whereas improved technologies like urea treatment, silage making, hay making, and fodder enrichment practices were never used by the respondents. The major constraints identified included the non-availability of quality fodder seeds and planting materials in local markets, a lack of extension services and inadequate information about improved varieties and cultivation practices. The study highlights the urgent need for strengthened extension interventions, improved input supply systems, and capacity-building programs to enhance fodder production and scientific utilization practices.