SEVAI promotes Azola Cultivation

SEVAI promotes Household Azolla cultivation in SEVAI target villages focusing on its benefits for agriculture and livestock. Azolla is a water fern that fixes nitrogen, making it an excellent biofertilizer and feed supplement for animals. It's rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and can be used as a dual crop with rice, enhancing soil fertility and reducing chemical fertilizer use.

Benefits of Azolla.are

Biofertilizer Fixes atmospheric nitrogen, reducing synthetic fertilizer need,

Livestock Feed,Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals for cattle, poultry, and fish,

Environmental Benefits, Purifies water, controls weeds, and sequesters CO2.

Economic Benefits, Reduces animal feed costs, increases crop yield.

This initiative aims to support sustainable agriculture, improve soil health, and provide affordable animal feed.

Azolla is a super easy and low-maintenance plant to grow.Here's how it's typically grown:

Water Requirement, Azolla thrives in stagnant water, like small ready make water proof tubs

Temperature,Ideal temperature range is 20-30°C.

Light*: Prefers partial shade to full sun.

Nutrients*: Needs nitrogen-fixing bacteria and micronutrients like phosphorus and potassium.

Growing Steps:*

1. *Prepare the Pond*: Clean and fill a pond or tank with 10-15 cm of water.

2. *Add Azolla*: Introduce Azolla plants (about 200-300 grams/sq.meter).

3. *Add Nutrients*: Add cow dung, urea, or SSP (single super phosphate) as fertilizers.

4. *Maintain*: Keep the water level constant and harvest regularly.

*Harvesting:* Azolla is ready to harvest in 10-15 days. Scoop out the plants, and use as feed or fertilizer.