Field experiments were conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu during kharif and rabi seasons of 2000-2003 under rainfed condition. The treatments included raising greengram or cowpea for vegetable/grain purpose and utilization of haulms as fodder as well for incorporation alongwith fallow (no pulse crop). For the second season crop of finger millet, the above treatments were kept as main plot treatments with the subplot treatments of either transplanting or direct sowing of finger millet with and without phosphorus. Results of the study revealed that maximum green fodder production and yield were obtained in cowpea as compared to greengram. In succeeding finger millet crop, higher grain and straw yield and net return were obtained when cowpea was incorporated in the early season followed by transplanting of finger millet with P application.

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The study in India involving 384 households found that 42.7% of dairy farmers adopted new forage varieties when varieties were released. The farmer’s resources, their caste, access to markets for milk and price received for milk had positive effects on the decision to adopt. Management of farms by women had negative effects on the adoption decision. Increased forage yield and ease of propagation and establishment were important reasons for adoption of varieties, e.g. the relative advantage of pearl millet × Napier grass (Cenchrus americanus × C. purpureus) vs. hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus). Thus, researchers need to address these issues when developing new germplasm, if farmers are to readily adopt new varieties, especially in the case of resource-poor farmers.