Track 3-2-1: Grazing Pressure, Industrialisation, Land Use Change, Policies and Social Programmes
Description
True grasslands formed as climatic climaxes in India are confined to the alpine regions (> 3000 m s l) in the Eastern and Western Himalayas and have been studied for their productivity (Joshi et al.,1988., Ram et al., 1989) and vegetation diversity (Raizada et al., 1998). Other grasslands as they exist are stable sub-climax formations formed as a result of forest degradation and the occurrence of secondary succession in almost all over the Himalayan region. The livelihoods of mountain dwellers is mainly dependent on traditional agriculture and livestock rearing. Animal husbandry is an inseparable component of hill agriculture and the system may be referred to as dairy-manure-draught cattle production system.
In the hills, fodder trees, shrubs and open grazing in forest areas is the main source of feed for livestock including agricultural residue. Nearly 66 to75% of the fodder requirement are met from the forest in the mid hills and 26-43% in the lower hills. Summer grazing is practices the alpine regions which are overgrazed. High livestock population and diminishing fodder production have increased fodder demand on the forests which are damaged by extensive lopping and consequent poor regeneration), further contributing to the process of ecological degradation. Land degradation is now a major threat to food production and environmental security in the Himalayan region. Nearly half of the land area in the region is degraded, the major causes being soil erosion due to water, faulty land use practices and the harsh terrain conditions.
Available estimates shows that the pressure of livestock grazing on forest and pasture land is 2 to 4 times higher than the normal carrying capacity of grazing areas in some hilly areas (Tiwari, 1997). Given the status of feed-fodder deficiencies and declining per capita land availability, sustaining the livestock sector has become a formidable challenge. The major constraints for supporting livestock is inadequate availability of green forage, particularly in winter, causing deficiency of protein and vitamins, resulting in low productivity. It is therefore necessary to develop and implement suitable land use systems which will provide enough fodder and also maintain environmental security in the fragile Himalayan regions.
Included in
Diversifying Agricultural Practices to Meet Fodder Requirements in the NW Himalayas through Improved Land Use Systems
True grasslands formed as climatic climaxes in India are confined to the alpine regions (> 3000 m s l) in the Eastern and Western Himalayas and have been studied for their productivity (Joshi et al.,1988., Ram et al., 1989) and vegetation diversity (Raizada et al., 1998). Other grasslands as they exist are stable sub-climax formations formed as a result of forest degradation and the occurrence of secondary succession in almost all over the Himalayan region. The livelihoods of mountain dwellers is mainly dependent on traditional agriculture and livestock rearing. Animal husbandry is an inseparable component of hill agriculture and the system may be referred to as dairy-manure-draught cattle production system.
In the hills, fodder trees, shrubs and open grazing in forest areas is the main source of feed for livestock including agricultural residue. Nearly 66 to75% of the fodder requirement are met from the forest in the mid hills and 26-43% in the lower hills. Summer grazing is practices the alpine regions which are overgrazed. High livestock population and diminishing fodder production have increased fodder demand on the forests which are damaged by extensive lopping and consequent poor regeneration), further contributing to the process of ecological degradation. Land degradation is now a major threat to food production and environmental security in the Himalayan region. Nearly half of the land area in the region is degraded, the major causes being soil erosion due to water, faulty land use practices and the harsh terrain conditions.
Available estimates shows that the pressure of livestock grazing on forest and pasture land is 2 to 4 times higher than the normal carrying capacity of grazing areas in some hilly areas (Tiwari, 1997). Given the status of feed-fodder deficiencies and declining per capita land availability, sustaining the livestock sector has become a formidable challenge. The major constraints for supporting livestock is inadequate availability of green forage, particularly in winter, causing deficiency of protein and vitamins, resulting in low productivity. It is therefore necessary to develop and implement suitable land use systems which will provide enough fodder and also maintain environmental security in the fragile Himalayan regions.
