9 0 HUSBANDARY – 9.7 - INTEGRATED FODDER CULTIVATION IN THE FARM

 ORGANIC FARMING COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

9 0 HUSBANDARY – 9.7 - INTEGRATED FODDER CULTIVATION IN THE FARM

In most smallholder farms, fodder cultivation will compete for space with the cultivation of crops. Whether fodder cultivation (and thus animal husbandry) is economically more beneficial compared with crop production must be assessed case by case. However, there are some options for integrating fodder crops in farms without sacrificing much land. Below are some examples:

→ Grass or leguminous cover crops in tree plantations

→ Hedges of suitable shrubs

→ Shade or support trees

→ Grass on bunds against soil erosion

→ Grass fallows or green manures in the crop rotation

→ Crops with by-products such as paddy straw or pea leaves

 

MANAGEMENT OF PASTURES

The management of pastures is crucial for a good herd management. It is also important to practice appropriate management throughout the year. There are many different types of grasses, and every climatic region has grasses which are specifically adapted to the conditions. In some cases it may be worth considering to till the grazing site and sow grass varieties that are more appropriate to the animal‘s needs.

Overgrazing is probably the most significant threat to grass land. Once the protective grass cover is destroyed, the topsoil is prone to erosion. Degraded pastures or land with little plant cover is difficult to re-cultivate. Therefore, it is important that the use and intensity of grazing on a piece of land is appropriate to its production capacity. Enough time must be given to a pasture to recover after intensive grazing. 

Fencing off areas and rotation of the grazing animals on several pieces of land is the best option for managing the farm and the overall landscape. Creating “grazing cells” restores overgrazed pastures, reduce the incidence of intestinal parasites encountered while the animals graze, and increase land productivity.  The intensity and timing of grazing, as well as the cutting of the grass, will influence the varieties of plants growing in the pasture:

 

 

KOZI YA KILIMO HAI KILIMO-UCHUMI

9 0 UFUGAJI – 9.7 - KILIMO SHIRIKISHO CHA RISHE KATIKA SHAMBA

Katika mashamba mengi ya wakulima wadogo, kilimo cha malisho kitashindana kwa nafasi na kilimo cha mazao. Kama kilimo cha malisho (na hivyo ufugaji) kina manufaa zaidi kiuchumi ikilinganishwa na uzalishaji wa mazao lazima kutathminiwe kila moja. Hata hivyo, kuna baadhi ya chaguzi za kuunganisha mazao ya lishe katika mashamba bila kutoa ardhi nyingi. Ifuatayo ni baadhi ya mifano:

→ Mazao ya kufunika nyasi au kunde katika mashamba ya miti

→ Ua wa vichaka vinavyofaa

→ Weka kivuli au saidia miti

→ Nyasi kwenye vifundo dhidi ya mmomonyoko wa udongo

→ Makonde ya nyasi au mbolea ya kijani katika mzunguko wa mazao

→ Mazao yenye mazao ya ziada kama vile majani ya mpunga au majani ya njegere

 

USIMAMIZI WA MALISHO

Usimamizi wa malisho ni muhimu kwa usimamizi mzuri wa mifugo. Pia ni muhimu kufanya usimamizi ufaao mwaka mzima. Kuna aina nyingi tofauti za nyasi, na kila eneo la hali ya hewa lina nyasi ambazo hubadilishwa mahsusi kulingana na hali hiyo. Katika baadhi ya matukio inaweza kuwa vyema kuzingatia kulima eneo la malisho na kupanda aina za nyasi ambazo zinafaa zaidi kwa mahitaji ya mnyama.

Ufugaji wa mifugo kupita kiasi ndio tishio kubwa zaidi kwa ardhi ya nyasi. Mara baada ya kifuniko cha nyasi ya kinga kuharibiwa, udongo wa juu unakabiliwa na mmomonyoko. Malisho yaliyoharibiwa au ardhi yenye vifuniko kidogo vya mimea ni vigumu kulima tena. Kwa hiyo, ni muhimu kwamba matumizi na ukubwa wa malisho kwenye kipande cha ardhi ni sawa na uwezo wake wa uzalishaji. Ni lazima muda wa kutosha utolewe kwa malisho ili kupata nafuu baada ya malisho makubwa.

Kuzingira uzio wa maeneo na mzunguko wa wanyama wa malisho kwenye vipande kadhaa vya ardhi ni chaguo bora zaidi la kusimamia shamba na mandhari ya jumla. Kuunda "seli za malisho" hurejesha malisho ya mifugo kupita kiasi, kupunguza matukio ya vimelea vya matumbo yanayotokea wakati wanyama wanalisha, na kuongeza uzalishaji wa ardhi. Nguvu na muda wa malisho, pamoja na kukata nyasi, itaathiri aina za mimea inayokua katika malisho: