Track 3-1-2: Case Studies on Participatory Research and Development
Description
Odisha, a state of modern India lies in the sub-tropical belt in eastern part of the country. It is the 10th largest state of India in terms of geographical area (15.57 million hectares). Out of the total geographical area, 37.33% constitute forest land and 39.69% cultivated land. These 6.180 million hectares of cultivated land is the source of food of almost 41.9 million human beings (Census, 2011) and 20.72 million livestock (Livestock Census 2012) of the state. Thus there is scarcity of land in the state. Majority of the farmers in the state are marginal and small (86.16%) owning less than 2 ha of land. Due to increasing population pressure, the average size of land holding had decreased from 1.89 ha in 1970-71 to 1.15 ha in 2010-11. Only 24.74% of cultivated area has access to irrigation during dry season. Hence, cultivation is mainly rainfed and food production is a priority than fodder crops. The fodder availability in Orissa state is ill matched to the livestock population. It is estimated that there is a deficit of 62.8% in green fodder. Out of the total green fodder availability, contribution of cultivated green fodder is only 2.83% and majority (97.17%) are available through grazing in permanent pasture, forest, cultivable waste land and other fallow land. Forest area (5.813 million ha) and permanent pasture or grazing land (0.49 million ha) popularly termed as “Gochar Land”, even in revenue records are the major feeding source of livestock population of the state.
Included in
Impact of Development Projects on Grazing Resources of Odisha
Odisha, a state of modern India lies in the sub-tropical belt in eastern part of the country. It is the 10th largest state of India in terms of geographical area (15.57 million hectares). Out of the total geographical area, 37.33% constitute forest land and 39.69% cultivated land. These 6.180 million hectares of cultivated land is the source of food of almost 41.9 million human beings (Census, 2011) and 20.72 million livestock (Livestock Census 2012) of the state. Thus there is scarcity of land in the state. Majority of the farmers in the state are marginal and small (86.16%) owning less than 2 ha of land. Due to increasing population pressure, the average size of land holding had decreased from 1.89 ha in 1970-71 to 1.15 ha in 2010-11. Only 24.74% of cultivated area has access to irrigation during dry season. Hence, cultivation is mainly rainfed and food production is a priority than fodder crops. The fodder availability in Orissa state is ill matched to the livestock population. It is estimated that there is a deficit of 62.8% in green fodder. Out of the total green fodder availability, contribution of cultivated green fodder is only 2.83% and majority (97.17%) are available through grazing in permanent pasture, forest, cultivable waste land and other fallow land. Forest area (5.813 million ha) and permanent pasture or grazing land (0.49 million ha) popularly termed as “Gochar Land”, even in revenue records are the major feeding source of livestock population of the state.
