Economic value of sorghum stover traded as fodder for urban and peri-urban dairy production in Hyderabad, India

Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] stover is the
\nmajor source of dry fodder for urban and peri-urban dairy
\nproduction in Hyderabad, India (Tesfaye 1998). Chopped
\nstover is transported to Hyderabad in lorries from
\nsorghum-growing regions as far away as 400 km. This is
\nin addition to nonchopped stover coming in carts from
\nplaces 50–100 km from the city. The purchaser usually
\nhas a choice between at least two types of stover. Fodder
\ntraders often name stover types after the regions from
\nwhere they come, or the cultivar that is grown there.
\nAnecdotal evidence and discussions with fodder traders
\nsuggested that stover prices vary — often from shop to
\nshop at the same time — because of the cultivars and the
\ncropping season (rainy or postrainy). Stover selling,
\ntransporting, trading and its use in dairy production
\nsupport the livelihood of many people from producers
\n(farmers) to the end users. This study explored the economic
\nvalue of sorghum stover in fodder trading and the
\nrelationship between stover price and quality.