Dr Michael Blummel (Late), Dr V Padma Kumar, KVSV Prasad
Grain and fodder quality analysis using NIRS technology
ACIAR
ICRISAT and ILRI started collaboration on improving the fodder value of crop residue – the single most important feed resources in most LMC – at the source through breeding and selection about 2 decades ago, initially focusing on sorghum and pearl millet in India. There were two major rationales for this collaboration: a) farmers’ rejection of new cultivars that were only improved for grain yield and were found lacking in stover fodder quality; and b) observations from stover fodder markets that showed that monetary stover value relative to grain value increased. (Incidentally, in the case of sorghum stover, it’s now about 50 to 60% that of the grain!)