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Farmer's Preferences and Indigenous Practice of Fodder Trees in Comilla Flood Plain Area of Bangladesh

M. D. Miah
Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

M. K. Noman
Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Chittagong University, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This article focuses on the indigenous practice of the use of fodder trees in the flood plain area of randomly selected 40 households sampled from Homna Upazilla of Comilla District, Bangladesh. The study was to find farmers' ranking of fodder tree species of their choice, their criteria for assessing fodder trees, uses, management, niches and ways of establishment. Kapila (Garuga pinnata) and Mandar (Erythrina indica) were the first and second most preferred fodder tree species by all categories of households. The most frequently mentioned criteria were palatability and the ability of the fodder to satisfy the hunger of the animal. Among delayed leaf senescence is considered as and important criteria of selection of fodder trees. Fodder trees were mostly used to feed the goat and sheep especially during the rainy season. All the households used the top most two preferred fodder species as live stake and support tree for climber like vegetable plant and over 90% of the farmers used these two species as live fence. Most of the fodder trees were found in home compounds established naturally. Satisfactory management techniques for fodder species were not followed by any household category. The study has helped to identify the species for further research and development activities with the aim of improving their productivity and disseminating them among the farmers.

Keywords: Fodder trees, Indigenous knowledge, Feeding season, Flood plain area

Location: Homna Upazilla, Comilla District, Bangladesh.

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 31-12-2001

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Fodder

Objectives:

To assess the farmers dependence on fodder trees during the feed scarcity i.e. mainly during the rainy season and post flood periods;
To assess the farmer’s indigenous knowledge on the use of fodder trees and shrubs.

Methodology:

The study was conducted in Homna Upazilla of Comilla District, Bangladesh. Ten villages were stratified randomly selected out of ten union of Homna Upazilla. As rearing of livestock and production of fodder trees are the functions of households farming, the farmers were stratified into marginal (0.21-0.50 ha), small (0.51-1.00 ha), medium (1.01-2.00 ha) and large (above 2.00 ha). Out of this stratification, 40 households, four from each village of which one belongs to each stratum. Farmers without cows and goats were excluded from the survey. Data were collected by interview method using a pre-sorted questionnaire during June-August, 2001. Data were collected from male heads or other important respondents and related socio-economic information were also collected. Total score of each species was then determined. The surveyed questionnaire was processed through a database program.

Source of Information: SAARC JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE, Vol. 1, 2003, ISSN 1682-8348 SAARC Agricultural Information Centre.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present findings represent that indigenous knowledge on fodder trees may be important part for the development of fodder status through the proper combination of researcher’s scientific knowledge with the farmer’s indigenous knowledge. More research is also needed on chemical composition, nutritive and anti nutritive qualities and toxicity of the fodder trees and shrubs available in the study area. The relationship between farmer’s assessments of fodder trees and laboratory nutritive analysis is required. The potentiality of livestock feeds that can be obtained from tress is not well perceived by the farmers. Therefore, these valuable feeds are not utilized to their full extent for feeding all types of livestock. There is an urgent need to quantify available biomass from trees and shrubs at the farmer’s level and to incorporate these into the rations of village ruminants for improving straw-based diets.

Knowledge Management: Journal