A standardized protocol was successfully developed for producing hydroponic fodder by Dr. K. Giridhar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Bengaluru in collaboration with the start-up company, Hydro Greens Agri Solutions Pvt. Ltd, who designed the microclimate controlled growing chambers, as per the memorandum of understanding signed in 2019.
The protocol consisted of optimized parameters such as seed rate for hydroponic trays, watering schedule, time of harvest of grain sprouts etc. M/s Hydro Greens, Bangalore came forward to adopt this protocol for their hydroponic machines and the agreement for licensing was signed by Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Director, ICAR-NIANP, Bengaluru and Mr. Vasanth Madhav Kamath, Director, M/s Hydro Greens Agri Solutions Pvt. Ltd. on 26 August 2021 at ICAR-NIANP, Bangalore.
This protocol will be of excellent help to produce hydroponic fodder as a nutritive feed supplement to milch animals from grains such as maize, wheat, cowpea, horse gram etc. It will also be an effective contingency measure to overcome the problem of green fodder deficit during scarce periods or under adverse weather conditions like drought or floods.
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