Track 3-1-1: Multi‐Stakeholder Platforms for Addressing Grassland Issues and Sustainable Use of Forage and Grassland Resources
Description
Agriculture and animal husbandry in cold arid region are interwoven with the complex fabric of the society in sociocultural, religious and economical ways. Mixed crop-livestock farming systems have exerted a powerful influence on climate of Leh because of dissected topography with high peaks and deep valleys, having immense surface area and substantial area of which is clothed with a massive green mantle of plant cover during cropping season. Increased development in terms of increased agriculture, construction of roads, other miscellaneous constructions, and revenue oriented forestry has accentuated deforestation to meet the demand of fuel, fodders based industries. This has also exerted negative impact on pasture lands. However, the area under permanent pasture and grazing lands and net sown area have been surprisingly constant in the last decade. While the area under fallow other than current fallow has reduced by 50 per cent and the current fallow have increased almost two folds clearly indicated the need ever increasing demand for feed and fodder.
The data/estimates of fodder production in the country vary widely. Fodder production and its utilization depend on the cropping pattern, climate, socio-economic conditions and type of livestock in a particular region. The cattle and other livestock are normally fed on the fodder available from cultivated areas, supplemented to a small extent by harvested grasses and top feeds. The three major sources of fodder supply are: crop residues, cultivated fodder and fodder from common property resources, forests, permanent pastures and grazing lands. The regional deficit is more important than the national deficit, especially for fodder, which is not economical to transport over long distances. The pattern of deficit varies block to block of the region. For instance, in general fodder availability in cold arid region is 40-50 per cent of the actual requirement, however, in few blocks, it is below 40%.
Included in
Feed and Fodder–A Major Challenge in Cold Arid Region of Leh
Agriculture and animal husbandry in cold arid region are interwoven with the complex fabric of the society in sociocultural, religious and economical ways. Mixed crop-livestock farming systems have exerted a powerful influence on climate of Leh because of dissected topography with high peaks and deep valleys, having immense surface area and substantial area of which is clothed with a massive green mantle of plant cover during cropping season. Increased development in terms of increased agriculture, construction of roads, other miscellaneous constructions, and revenue oriented forestry has accentuated deforestation to meet the demand of fuel, fodders based industries. This has also exerted negative impact on pasture lands. However, the area under permanent pasture and grazing lands and net sown area have been surprisingly constant in the last decade. While the area under fallow other than current fallow has reduced by 50 per cent and the current fallow have increased almost two folds clearly indicated the need ever increasing demand for feed and fodder.
The data/estimates of fodder production in the country vary widely. Fodder production and its utilization depend on the cropping pattern, climate, socio-economic conditions and type of livestock in a particular region. The cattle and other livestock are normally fed on the fodder available from cultivated areas, supplemented to a small extent by harvested grasses and top feeds. The three major sources of fodder supply are: crop residues, cultivated fodder and fodder from common property resources, forests, permanent pastures and grazing lands. The regional deficit is more important than the national deficit, especially for fodder, which is not economical to transport over long distances. The pattern of deficit varies block to block of the region. For instance, in general fodder availability in cold arid region is 40-50 per cent of the actual requirement, however, in few blocks, it is below 40%.
