Track 2-5-1: Traditional Grassland Management, Animal Husbandry, and Nomadism
Description
The high altitude regions in India exhibit a diverse climate, topography, vegetation, ecology and land use pattern. The annual average rainfall varies from 80 mm in Ladakh to over 200 cm in some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The vegetation varies from the scrub in the lower hills to arctic in the Greater Himalaya (GJK 2004). In this region, Ladakh is a unique land form encompassing distinct physical features, ecology, environment, ethnicity, agricultural systems and livestock rearing practices. This region experiences a very hostile climate and winter temperature may go as low as -300 C. Summer temperature rarely exceeds 270C. (Uniyal et al., 2005).
Livestock farming is a major source of economic activity in the high altitude regions of India. The livestock rearing is practiced both under sedentary and migratory system. Crop residues, alfalfa (Medicago spp.), Melilotus, Hyphophae and several species of grasses/pastures are the major forage resources. Tree leaf fodder of willow is also used as forage. However, excepting alfalfa which is still cultivated in area over 4000 ha, resource base of other forage resources has deteriorated and a huge imbalance in demand and supply scenario has occurred. In order to economically exploit potential of livestock products for better livelihood option to the local population, sustainable fodder production strategies will be required.
The paper is an attempt to describe and suggest suitable options for sustainable fodder production in the high altitude regions of the country.
Citation
Roy, M. M., "Strategies to Ameliorate Pasture Production for Livestock in High Altitude Regions" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 8.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/23/2-5-1/8
Included in
Strategies to Ameliorate Pasture Production for Livestock in High Altitude Regions
The high altitude regions in India exhibit a diverse climate, topography, vegetation, ecology and land use pattern. The annual average rainfall varies from 80 mm in Ladakh to over 200 cm in some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The vegetation varies from the scrub in the lower hills to arctic in the Greater Himalaya (GJK 2004). In this region, Ladakh is a unique land form encompassing distinct physical features, ecology, environment, ethnicity, agricultural systems and livestock rearing practices. This region experiences a very hostile climate and winter temperature may go as low as -300 C. Summer temperature rarely exceeds 270C. (Uniyal et al., 2005).
Livestock farming is a major source of economic activity in the high altitude regions of India. The livestock rearing is practiced both under sedentary and migratory system. Crop residues, alfalfa (Medicago spp.), Melilotus, Hyphophae and several species of grasses/pastures are the major forage resources. Tree leaf fodder of willow is also used as forage. However, excepting alfalfa which is still cultivated in area over 4000 ha, resource base of other forage resources has deteriorated and a huge imbalance in demand and supply scenario has occurred. In order to economically exploit potential of livestock products for better livelihood option to the local population, sustainable fodder production strategies will be required.
The paper is an attempt to describe and suggest suitable options for sustainable fodder production in the high altitude regions of the country.
