J.H. Rasambainarivo, M. Razafimananisoa and R. Razafindratsita
Department de Recherches 200 techniques et veterinaire
P. O. Box 4 Antananarivo - 121, Madagascar
Abstract
A survey of 38 small-scale daily farmers in the Malagasy highlands was carried out in the 1987 dry season to assess the extent of adoption of two innovations introduced by the material extension service. These innovations were the growing of improved perennial grasses for hay and for green fodder and oats. The farms averaged 1.4 ha in size with 6.5 heads of cattle of which 2.2 were daily cows. More than 80% of the daily cows were Norwegian Red and their crosses. During the dry season all of the farmers fed their cattle with oats which had been raised as a catch crop on rice fields. Forty-eight percent of them made hay with Chloris gayana and Setaria sphacelata. The reasons for the adoption of these innovations are discussed.
