2.4 Constraints to Further Development of Forage Crop
The following is the constraint to development of forage:
i. Land shortage
ii. Land tenure
iii. Lack of knowledge
iv. Lack of adequate seed
v. Lack of capital
vi. Seasonality in availability of green fodder
vii. Poor water conservation
viii. Extensive biotic activities
ix. Genetic technologies
x. Labour shortage
(Iruin S.A 2000. An assessment of the demand for forage by small holder farmers wolgyta soddo, Ethiopia, and the constraint to their adoption. Masters thesis. Imperial college at wye, London, uk.58pp.
i. Land shortage:- This is one of the major constraints to adoption in the farming system. This is a problem because farmers do not want to take land away from food production for other uses use of one of the intercropping techniques or using niche areas would not affect the cereal crops.
ii. Land tenure system:- Is a constraint to farmers wanting to adopt long-term technologies for soil improvement and trees development due to uncertainty of land tenure.
iii. Lack of knowledge:- Is a constraint identified by the farmers as a problem with forages. After forage are given to them they do not know what is best to do with them or how to use them efficiently. With the help of extension service, this constraint could be alleviated.
iv. Lack of adequate seed:- Unavailability of seed is also a problem, which must be addressed and dealt with through cooperative work of some other farm organization this may not become less of a problem.
v. Lack of capital:- Many farmers have inadequate capital to cover the up-font cost of developing certain forage technologies.
vi. Seasonality in availability of green fodder:- Green fodder from the pastures and grazing lands is available only during parts of the year, while during the rest of the period only dry crop residue and some leaf fodder indiscriminately looped from fodder trees in forest are fed without any supplements (Bane et al, 1990 and Sah etal. 1994). The fodder conservation techniques used to conserve crop residue and some grasses for off-season use are also poor and unscientific. The alternate land use system to provide green forage throughout the year and their management technology are yet to be developed.
vii. Poor water conservation:- The water conservation practices, particularly in grasslands are not given due considerations and are grossly inadequate, which adversely affect productivity of these lands.
viii. Extensive biotic activities:- Extensive and indiscriminate biotic activities in grasslands and forest grazing land like cultivation, burning, grazing and looping for leaf fodder and fuel wood, have led to deterioration of productive capacity of these lands. The grazing pressure has mounted twice to six times the carrying capacity of these land (Sharma et al. 1988).
ix. Genetic technology:- The kind of technologies provided to farmers may be in appropriate for the individual farmers. If researchers fail to address farmers’ needs they will not adopt because the technologies do not fit into the farmer system.
x. Labour shortage:- This also play a vital role in whether farmers adopt forages or not. The time when labour is required for forage an often already occupied by other field work. Hence, labour constraint may continued to be a factor influencing adoption.
