It’d sound odd to name a small plot overgrown with grass a museum. However the half-acre parcel of land on the premises of the workplace of the State Fodder Farm at Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram is definitely one. It’s the Fodder Grass Museum, which grows completely different kinds of fodder grass, the feed for livestock. The fodder farm and museum come beneath the Division of Dairy Improvement.

Over 20 kinds of fodder grass are grown right here and this contains these which might be/have been cultivated on the fodder farm, positioned a number of kilometres away from the Museum. That is the one-off government-run farm within the State and it’s from right here that forage is equipped to dairy farmers throughout the district.

The fodder farm was opened in 1962, whereas the museum was launched throughout 2014-15. Varieties are added as and when new hybrid grass are launched. “Farmers and different stakeholders who attend our coaching programmes go to the museum,” says Fahad M, assistant director/farm head, State Fodder Farm.

“Para grass and Guinea grass have been among the many earlier varieties grown on the farm. They have been ultimately changed with high-yielding hybrid grass. All of them are on show right here,” says Binu MD, agricultural assistant on the farm.

Sign grass and Congo Sign grass, each of East African origin, Setaria, Gamba grass, Killikulam, Thumboormuzhi and so on are the varieties on show. They don’t seem to be grown commercially as a result of they don’t seem to be high-yielding varieties. Farmers want grass sorts that regenerate quick, have extra protein content material and due to this fact guarantee extra milk.

The hybrid varieties have been developed by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural College at Coimbatore. The predominant one is the Bajra Napier Hybrid grass, a hybrid of bajra (pearl millet) and Napier grass, which has variants comparable to CO3, CO4, CO5 and CO6 (CO stands for Coimbatore). “The samples of all 4 are there on the museum, whereas CO3 is the predominant selection cultivated on our farm. We have now planted CO5 additionally in a small space,” says Fahad.

Tremendous Napier and Crimson Napier are the opposite two hybrids current on the museum moreover being cultivated in a small space on the farm. “They’ve develop into extraordinarily in style with the farmers due to their high quality,” says Fahad. Current additions on the museum are Dwarf Napier, a variant of CO3, and the Australian Crimson Napier.

The Kerala Agricultural College has developed three fodder grass varieties, Suguna, Supriya and Susthira, and the samples of first two are there on the museum. “We are attempting to herald Susthira as effectively,” Fahad says.

In addition to these fodder crops, fodder timber comparable to Agathi, drumstick and Subabul and Stylosanthes, a fodder legume, are additionally grown on the museum.

Fahad provides that fodder museums are sometimes arrange in universities. This embody the School of Agriculture at Vellayani in Thiruvananthapuram, launched in 2020.

In the meantime, a explanation for fear for the Dairy Division is that the fodder farm has been shrinking over time. From 131 acres, it has decreased to a measly 9 acres after parts of the farm got away to varied authorities departments and establishments. A latest occasion is eight acres being given for Prathyasha, the flat advanced for 332 fishermen beneath the Punargeham scheme, inaugurated final month.

The Division has been freely giving parts from their property on the situation that alternate land will likely be supplied. However that promise has not been fulfilled but.

“There’s a big demand for fodder grass from throughout the district however we’re unable to fulfill it due to need of house,” Fahad says. The grass is equipped to dairy farmers in areas comparable to Menamkulam, Manacaud, Konjiravila, Maruthoorkadavu, Karumam, Vizhinjam and so on. The grass can be purchased by numerous temples within the metropolis, like Attukal temple.

“On a regular basis 3,600 kilograms of grass is offered, that’s 360 bundles of 10 kilograms every. We cost ₹3 per kilogram from direct patrons. The middlemen who purchase from us promote it a better fee to farmers. We promote stem additionally,” Fahad says.

The reducing begins by 6 am on daily basis and is packed off 12 midday. Fourteen labourers work right here. “The grass needs to be reduce 15 cms from above the bottom. It takes 30-35 days for it to develop once more,” Fahad explains. Sewage water from the close by Sewage Remedy Plant is used for irrigation.

Public can go to the museum and the farm throughout working hours of the Fodder Farm workplace. Contact: 0471-2501706

Printed – October 06, 2025 10:00 am IST