- India has witnessed a surge in livestock numbers in recent decades, yet the availability of quality fodder remains a significant challenge for effective livestock management, exacerbated by weather-related events.
- Azolla, an aquatic floating fern, has emerged as a promising fodder alternative for livestock nutrition in the midst of a green fodder crisis. The Tamil Nadu government has pushed for its adoption in the state.
- Farmers who have embraced Azolla cultivation report various benefits, including reduced feed costs and increased milk production.
About seven years ago, Surulinathan S., a 41-year-old poultry farmer from Theni, Tamil Nadu learnt about using Azolla, an aquatic floating fern, as chicken feed. He was considering using concentrate feed, a protein rich animal feed to boost growth. However, after a training on azolla farming at the Farmers Training Centre he realised that that would be a more economical option. Concentrate feed was priced between Rs. 60 to Rs. 70 per kg, while the cost investment for azolla was negligible. After experimenting with both azolla and concentrate feed, he found the results were similar and Surulinathan decided to switch to azolla feed for his 1,000 chickens.
He now maintains two azolla pits measuring 10×12 feet to feed his chickens and ensure their regular upkeep. “After feeding azolla, the chickens gained good weight and customers also reported an enhanced taste in the meat,” claimed Surulinathan.
Azolla is an aquatic floating fern that forms a dense mat over water and has various applications. Initially used for inhibiting mosquito breeding, or as a bio-fertiliser and fish feed, it is now being promoted as a feedstock for cattle.
Farmers who have been struggling with accessing fodder for various reasons, including environmental and climate impacts, have found some relief with Azolla, which they can grow close to home. Additionally, with its low requirement for water, Azolla has been promoted as an alternative fodder during drought conditions.
Another farmer, 42-year-old Indrani Karthik from Kangeyam, also decided to switch to Azolla as feed for her cows after witnessing her neighbour’s success in cultivating Azolla. She procured water from a neighbouring field as her farm had hard water and created a water-filled pit with 360 litres of water. She would harvest Azolla every day and then top up the pit with about 18-20 litres of water.
Sharing her experience, she said, “Within seven days of seeding Azolla, it grew rapidly, allowing me to feed half a kilogram of Azolla to each of my ten cows. The cows thrived, and their milk production improved after I introduced Azolla into their feed twice a day.” She continued this for a year and a half after which she stopped Azolla farming.
Azolla, a nutritious feed solution
Livestock and poultry farming is an important source of livelihood in India with around 20.5 million people dependent on it.
According to the 20th Livestock Census (2019), the country has approximately 302.79 million bovines (cow, buffalo, mithun and yak), 74.26 million sheep, 148.88 million goats, 9.06 million pigs, and about 851.81 million poultry animals. The livestock has grown over seven years as compared to the previous census in 2012.
However, the availability of quality fodder remains a major impediment to the scientific management of livestock. In 2022, the then Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala reported a deficit of 11.24% for green fodder, 23.4% for dry fodder, and 28.9% for concentrates. Factors contributing to this shortage include changing land use patterns, urbanisation, declining pasture productivity, and land diversion to commercial crops. Extreme weather events such as the 2016 drought in Tamil Nadu threaten livestock production by affecting the quantity and quality of feed crop.
Following drought in the state in 2016, the Tamil Nadu government actively promoted alternative methods of growing fodder that required less water. Azolla farming was one of them. In 2018, the state government built some 10,000 units for Azolla farming for self-help groups in rural areas. It has also displayed a model of Azolla cultivation at every veterinary dispensary.
T. Kalaiselvi, professor in the Department of Agricultural Microbiology at TNAU, noted that Azolla contains essential proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper, and magnesium. “Economical and low-maintenance, Azolla is an ideal protein source that requires minimal land. It can be cultivated at home, even under tropical and temperate conditions,” she said.
Azolla is easily digestible due to its low lignin content and contains essential ether extract for ruminant diets. Its biomass doubles in three to five days under optimal conditions, providing high nutritional value with 20-35% protein, 0-15% minerals, and 7-10% amino acids, bioactive substances, and biopolymers. Both fresh and dry biomass are used as cow and poultry feed, said Kalaiselvi.
Various studies have also highlighted the benefits of Azolla. The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) highlights Azolla as a promising alternative to meet the growing demand for fodder among small-scale farmers. Researchers of UK-based Azolla Foundation, that disseminates information about Azolla, have identified it as a reliable option for nutritious fodder and outline instances in India where Azolla has been successfully used. “Although the demand for milk and meat has increased in countries such as India, there has also been a substantial decline in fodder production owing to the decreasing forest and grassland areas,” notes the Foundation’s website. “The fodder availability from various crops has also decreased largely due to the introduction of high yielding dwarf varieties. Shortages of fodder are therefore being compensated with commercial feed, resulting in increased cost of meat and milk production.”
Low-cost farming for livestock feed
To grow Azolla, farmers do not need special infrastructure as opposed to concentrate feed which needs a specific set up and is produced through a series of steps, which is not feasible for small-scale farmers with fewer cattle. Azolla, however, gives the similar required nutrition and it can be farmed on a smaller scale on any land where farmers can create a pit of 6X4 feet.
The farmers need 1-1.5 kg of fresh Azolla culture which they share among themselves or keep from their own harvest. Alternatively, they buy this culture at around Rs. 30 from the local agriculture university. For a pond measuring 6×4 feet, 10-15 kg of fertile soil (without large particles or debris) is mixed with 5 kg of cow dung, creating a slurry. This is then spread evenly in the pit or pond. Water level is maintained at three-fourth the pit’s size and covered to prevent leaves from falling in and for partial shade. Azolla grows rapidly and can be harvested in about 10-15 days, every day after the full growth.
Maruthachalam C., an organic farmer in Kanur Village near Puliyampatti municipality in Erode, has been growing Azolla in two 6×12 tarpaulin pits for several years. He adds ten buckets of his farm sand to each pit and five kg of Jeevamrutham, an organic fertiliser and growth promoter made from cow dung. “I use my own farm sand because we don’t use synthetic or harmful chemicals that inhibit Azolla growth. Non-organic farmers can use cow dung if they don’t have Jeevamrutham and borewell or crusher sand for the base,” he explained.
He allows the setup to ferment for five days before adding the Azolla seeds to adjust the soil’s acidity, as methane from the dung can otherwise harm the Azolla. “Some people even get Azolla culture from me, which are small quantities of the plant. Initially, I got my seeds from the animal husbandry department.”
Senthilkumar explained that the azolla pit should be in partial shade rather than under direct sunlight. The pit requires regular maintenance, including daily stirring, changing the sand every ten days and the regular addition of minerals like superphosphate. “Farmers often fail when they neglect this regular maintenance. Additionally, lack of fresh water and high winds can negatively affect Azolla growth,” he noted.
Kalaiselvi emphasised that Azolla has a maximum temperature tolerance of 37°C and grows optimally between 20°C and 30°C. She noted that it may not withstand higher temperatures. However, with proper maintenance, Maruthachalam has successfully grown Azolla under the shade of coconut trees, even during the recent hottest summer. He says sand and water from his organic farm provide highly favourable conditions for Azolla growth at any temperature.
“People who cultivate Azolla in a single pit also tend to fail. It is important to have at least two Azolla pits to harvest alternatively, allowing for more consistent growth,” insisted Prabhu C., who cultivates Azolla on his farm in Erode and sells Azolla beds across the country.
Livelihood benefits and expansion challenge
The Tamil Nadu government has also been promoting azolla among local farmers. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) introduced azolla in 2015 as a low-cost intervention for dairy cattle in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu and S. Senthilkumar, an agriculture scientist, conducted a study to determine its overall impact on beneficiaries.
The study, with 375 NABARD-supported farmers to understand the adoption of Azolla. During 2015-16, farmers across 15 villages were provided free Azolla pits and detailed training. “After 21 days, they grew an average of 750 grams/day of Azolla in a 6×4 pit. Feeding Azolla resulted in a substantial increase of 400 ml of milk production per cow per day,” he said.
Senthilkumar highlighted Azolla as a cost-effective solution, “With the increased milk production, farmers could potentially earn an additional Rs. 480/month at a procurement rate of Rs. 40 per litre. Over a 10-month lactation period, this could amount to Rs. 4800 per cow.”
“During the lactation period, a cow typically requires around 1050 kgs of concentrate feed, out of which 450 kgs could be replaced by Azolla. With concentrate feed costing Rs. 35 per kg, this reduction could save Rs. 15,750 per cow over the lactation period,” he said claiming that Azolla incurs minimal costs, typically not exceeding Rs. 1 per kg.
Senthilkumar added that in addition to increased milk production, the fat content of the milk also rises by 0.3%, enabling farmers to command a higher price. During the 2015-2016 period, farmers in his NABARD-sponsored Azolla project generated a profit of Rs. 11,000 per cow per lactation period.
Senthilkumar’s study identified the main reasons farmers adopted Azolla: reduced feed cost, increased milk yield, and ease of adoption.
Now a professor and the head of the Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education at Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TNVASU), Theni, Senthilkumar says, “Dairy farming offers a significant livelihood opportunity for farmers, providing regular income through milk production. Integrating Azolla feeding to boost milk output could greatly improve their livelihoods.”
Challenges with Azolla cultivation
However, Azolla cultivation is still not widely adopted due to several reasons. According to Senthilkumar, these include farmer concerns regarding plot maintenance, general fear of feeding Azolla to cattle and lack of conducive environments for Azolla cultivation.
Kalaiselvi emphasised that lack of awareness is the primary factor hindering the widespread adoption of Azolla.
“The local veterinary doctors identify and motivate progressive farmers to adopt Azolla cultivation. Once they grasp the economic benefits, the transition becomes seamless,” mentioned R. Perumalsamy, regional joint director, Animal Husbandry Department, Coimbatore.
Regarding concerns about invasive species, Kalaiselvi clarified, “India hosts 7-9 species of Azolla, and Azolla pinnata is one of them. Only Azolla cristata (Kaulf.), an alien species to Indian flora, is invasive in Kashmir.”
Banner image: Azolla thrives even in high heat conditions on Maruthachalam’s farm, growing robustly under the shade of coconut trees thanks to the natural sand and fresh water available on his four-acre organic farm. Image by Gowthami Subramaniam for Mongabay.
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