Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/253

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opportunities for the new vocational graduate through the practice of technology. Most of this technology already exists but has to be demonstrated and shown to be profitable. There would be many more such areas. We shall see one as an example. A) Cattle Fodder/Feed The deficits for the following cattle feeds have been noted by ICAR. Green Fodder 388 million tonnes Crop Residues 639 million tonnes Concentrates 82 million tonnes Value (Rs.) 31,000 crores 64,000 crores 24,600 crores Total value of the deficit in cattle feeds 120,000 crores This means there is an almost unlimited scope for the production of cattle feed, if it can be produced at commercially viable costs. As a farm product, it should be profitable to the farmer. And as a cattlefeed it should be attractive to the dairyman. We shall first see the prices of some commercial feeds (Table A). TABLE: A PRICES OF SOME COMMERCIAL FEEDS Item Market price Price (Rs./kg) Jowar REs. Lucerne Silage, maize Concentrate 2.16 5.30 1.75 4.20 This shows the relative cost of maize fodder in relation to other feeds. While Lucerne is the most expensive, because of its superior Rural Development Through Education System 240