Ramie Farming: Green Fodder rich in Nutritious Properties, also used in Fiber Production
Yields up to 15-20 years.
Ramie Cultivation | Ramie is a bushy plant whose leaves are considered excellent green fodder for animals. It is rich in protein. That’s why it is very beneficial for animals. Ramie is cultivated more in the northeastern states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland.
Here it is also known as Riha or Kunkura. Apart from using Ramie as fodder, farmer brothers can earn extra from its fiber. Its solid fiber is used as a raw material in the textile industry. Know how farmers can eliminate fodder problems by adopting improved cultivation of Ramie.
Soil and Temperature
Ramie cultivation in India can be done in all types of soil, just there should be proper drainage system in it. But loamy soil is considered best for this. The temperature should be 25-31 degree for crop growth.
Field Preparation
It is necessary to prepare the soil well for a good crop. Therefore, before sowing the crop, do deep plowing of the field with 2-3 harrows. Add 20-30 tonnes of well decomposed cow dung or compost per hectare. After testing the nutrients of the soil, add 20 kg Nitrogen, 15 kg Phosphorous and 15 kg Potash per hectare. Then it is necessary to apply 40 kg Nitrogen, 20 kg Phosphorous and 20 kg Potash in the field after every harvest of the crop.
How to Sow?
Saplings can be prepared from the seeds of Ramie and then planted in the fields. Apart from this, plants can also be prepared from its rhizome. 25-30 plants can be produced from one rhizome. In addition, rhizomatous stems (plantlets) can also be used for transplanting. About 55,000 to 60,000 rhizomatous stems are required for cultivation in one hectare. It costs less as compared to rhizome. The right time for Ramie cultivation is from February to October and its seeds start forming in May-June.
Nutritious Green Fodder
Experts recommend using ramie as a green fodder, as its leaves contain 22 to 28 percent protein. By cultivating Ramie, farmers can get green fodder throughout the year and it does not cost much. One crop is obtained after every 20-25 days. According to the Fertilizers and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 300 tons of green fodder and 42 tons of dry matter are obtained from one hectare of Ramie crop every year. Ramie can be used as green fodder throughout the year in different parts of the country, which will help dairy farmers to increase their income.
Benefits of Ramie for Animals
Ramie is rich in protein, so feeding it improves the milk quality of animals. Like turmeric, it also has antibiotic properties, due to which the problem of infection in animals also reduces due to its use. Not only this, along with fodder, farmers can also get fiber from it. Its fiber is used as a raw material in the textile industry. Fiber can provide additional income to the farmers. Let us tell you that its fiber is considered much stronger than any other fiber.
No long Plowing required
The specialty of this crop is that once planted, there is no need for plowing in the field for 15-20 years, which reduces the cost of the farmers. Just keep weeding in between. Keep irrigating at regular intervals, as it is necessary to maintain moisture in the soil. There is no need of irrigation in rainy season.
As an Intercrop
Farmers can also earn more profit by growing Ramie along with pulse crops. Besides this, it can also be grown as an intercrop with coconut, arecanut, pineapple, papaya, guava etc.
When to Harvest?
Harvesting should be done at an interval of 20-25 days. After one year 12-15 cuttings of the crop can be done. Its crop gives continuous yield for 15-20 years.
Also Read: Chicory Cultivation: Beneficial for Animals as well as Human Health
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