Sorghum-Sudan Grass Harvest in Iğdır Reduces Fodder Costs
· Vatan
Sorghum-Sudan grass hybrid, planted with a 75% seed subsidy in Iğdır, yields twice as much as silage corn, easing fodder costs for livestock breeders.
A significant step has been taken in Iğdır within the scope of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's General Directorate of Plant Production's 'Effective Utilization of Agricultural Lands' program. Alternative products are being supported in the region to reduce roughage costs, which constitute the largest expense item for livestock businesses. Producer Şahset Tınakçı, benefiting from the 75% seed subsidy provided by the Iğdır Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, planted a sorghum-Sudan grass hybrid on his 10-decare land in Oba village. The project aims to alleviate input costs for local breeders and increase agricultural productivity.
The initial harvest in the cultivated field yielded approximately 5 tons per decare. Producer Şahset Tınakçı, sharing his results, stated:
Producer Şahset Tınakçı, addressing other farmers in the region, highlighted the product's advantages:
Iğdır Chamber of Commerce President Serhat Kumtepe stated that the product can be harvested 3 times in a season, depending on weather conditions:
Iğdır Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Ahmet Tingiş, commented on the profitability of the product in regional agriculture:
| Value | Period | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 75% | Current | Seed grant support rate |
| 10 decares | Current | Experimental planting area |
| 5 tonnes/decare | First harvest | First harvest yield |
| 5 tonnes/decare | Second harvest | Second harvest yield expectation |
| 3 units | Annual | Annual potential harvest number |
| 2 times | Current | Yield multiplier compared to corn |