Wild fodder plants used by the tribes of Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: The form of forage, silage and hay . The present study reported 39 wild fodder plant species of 34 genera belonging to 23 families from 7 tribal mandals of Srikakulam district. These are tabulated alphabetically followed by their vernacular, Hindi, Sanskrit and English names, family and part of the plant species used as fodder.Among 23 families, 3 plant species each from Fabaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Dioscoreaceae; 2 plant species each from Mimosaceae, Rubiaceae,Rhamnaceae; one plant species each from Malvaceae, Bombacaceae, Tiliaceae, Burseraceae, Celastraceae, Linaceae, Rutaceae, Sapindaceae,Ulmacaea and Piperaceae were reported. The main tribes in the district Jatapu, KapuSavara, KondaSavaraand Gadabaetc. Savaras and Gadabas are considered as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (P.V.T.G). Agriculture is the main occupation of the tribes. They mainly depend on shifting cultivation on hill slopes, collection of non-timber forest products, grazing of animals and poultry keeping, fishing, house. As green fodder is an important source of nutrients for diary animals, further investigation like nutritional analysis of these fodder plants, popularizing them and introducing in plain areas should definitely reduce the fodder shortage to livestock. Agriculture and animal husbandry are culturally, religiously, and economically intertwined. The dependency of farmers only on agriculture will cause loss during crop failure. But cattle rearing along with sufficient fodder with agriculture provides draught power, rural transport, manure, fuel, milk and meat