Self-sufficiency of Fodder Crops: Selkphyu Township, Magway Region in the Central

Dry Zone of Myanmar

Nilar Htike Htike Tin (AGY - 110)

To evaluate the self-sufficiency of fodder crops, the study was conducted at Seikphyu
Township, Magway Region in July 2012. A total of 122 respondents from 13 villages were
interviewed with structured interview questionnaire.
This study revealed that livelihood of the majority of respondent was entirely relied
on upland farming and small farm size was 1 to 2 ha. Although the traditional farming system
was depending upon animal drawn implements, most of the respondents kept 1 to 2 head per
household. The crop residues such as rice straw, corn stalk, bean husk, bean cake, sesame
cake and chopped shells of toddy palm fresh fruits were fed as animal feed. Among the crop
residues, the highest use was found in corn stalk fallowed by bean husk and rice straw. Apart
from the crop residues, the fodder obtained from the natural vegetation, grasses and tree
leaves were also the animal feeds in the study area. Maize and sorghum were cultivated as
fodder crops under negligible area of land and the storage period of crop residues was highest
within 5 months.
Although the feeding amount of crop residues and grasses were decreased during the
fodder shortage season, the feeding amount of tree leaves was significantly increased. The
self-sufficiency ratio of bean husk, corn stalk and rice straw were 46.25, 40.92 and 21.65 in
the study area. Total sufficiency ratio of crop residues was below the sufficient level
throughout the year except January. Self-sufficiency ratio of corn stalk was positively and
significantly associated with upland ownership. Self-sufficiency of rice straw was positively
and significantly associated with corn stalk sufficiency, lowland ownership, rice growing area
and rice yield. However, cropping patterns were not effect on the sufficiency of rice straw,
corn stalk and bean husk. The most common problem faced by the sample respondents was
buying crop residues from distance places. There were no activities for fodder production and
pasture management in the study area. The extension services and subject matter specialist in
forage and the nutritive value of feed resources are needed in planning activities for livestock
sector development in the study area.
Therefore, the shift in cropping patterns will contribute fodder crops sufficiency in the study
area.