About Accelerated Fodder Development Programme (AFDP)’
- Pursuant to announcement in Union Budget, a scheme on ‘Accelerated Fodder Development Programme (AFDP)’ was launched in the year 2011-12 through a window of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY).
- It aims at enhancing availability of green and dry fodder throughout the year and also to mitigate shortage of fodder caused by the natural calamities like droughts and floods.
- AFDP is conceptualized on a three pronged approach: Production of Quality Breeder and Foundation Seeds; Enhancement of Production of Fodder and Adoption of appropriate technologies for Post Harvest Management.
- Scheme is implemented on a cluster approach with location specific interventions.
Objectives:
- The programme envisages accelerating production of fodder through promotion of integrated technologies and processes for enhancing the availability of fodder throughout the year.
Strategies:
The programme proposes a multi-pronged strategy to achieve the stated objectives:
- Production of Quality Seeds: Supporting/Strengthening State Agricultural Universities for production of breeder and foundation seeds of selected promising varieties/hybrids of fodder with participation of farmers.
- Production of Fodder: Organizing fodder production programme based on cluster approach in the selected/targeted clusters preferably in dairy catchment areas of the potential States by promoting appropriate and region-specific fodder varieties.
- Adoption of appropriate technologies for Post Harvest Management: Technologies like fodder block making units, chaff cutter for fodder processing and silage making would be promoted in the selected/targeted clusters.
Coverage of the Programme:
- States: The programme will be implemented on a location specific approach in selected states. Cluster approach comprising an area of 500 ha under Fodder /Dual purpose crops.
- Inclusiveness for catering to the weaker sections of the society: In order to cater to the weaker sections of the society, priority would be given to small and marginal farmers and/or SHG, Cooperatives formed by ‘small and marginal farmers’, Cooperatives of weaker sections of the society and women.
Source: nfsm.gov.in and AIR
