Track 3-6-1: Public‐Private Partnership in Managing Common Property Resources

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Livestock production is one of the main occupations of resource-poor and resource-rich people living in India’s arid regions, and common grazing lands have always played a major role in livestock based livelihood systems, as around 50% of animals depend on grazing (Misra et al, 2015). According to the National Sample Survey Organization, common property land resources constitute about 15% of the total geographical area of India, of which 23% is community pasture and grazing lands and 16% have been classified as village forests and woodlots (NSSO, 1999). At another level, India has the largest livestock population in the world, with 512 million head of livestock, many of them raised by small and marginal farmers who depend on grazing land to meet the fodder requirements of their animals (Anonymous, 2012). Traditionally, close link exists between livestock and common property resources (CPRs), as grazing is predominate feeding practice among the livestock keepers in hot arid region of India. This complex inter-relationship between CPRs, livestock and crops in arid and semi-arid production systems has contributed to the sustainability of dryland agriculture for generations (Misra et al., 2009). However, the typical scenario of community grazing lands has been one of gradually declining productivity due to overexploitation, and declining area due to privatization. Keeping this in view, Livestock Production Systems & Range Management Division and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Central arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur identified pasture development as a major thrust area for the hot arid zone of India. The interventions related to pasture development was carried out on a total of 88 ha common/private land in ten gram panchayat in two districts (Jodhpur and Nagur) of western Rajasthan during 2010-14 in collaboration with local farming communities, NGOs and Goushala.

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Participatory Pasture Development in Hot Arid Region of India

Livestock production is one of the main occupations of resource-poor and resource-rich people living in India’s arid regions, and common grazing lands have always played a major role in livestock based livelihood systems, as around 50% of animals depend on grazing (Misra et al, 2015). According to the National Sample Survey Organization, common property land resources constitute about 15% of the total geographical area of India, of which 23% is community pasture and grazing lands and 16% have been classified as village forests and woodlots (NSSO, 1999). At another level, India has the largest livestock population in the world, with 512 million head of livestock, many of them raised by small and marginal farmers who depend on grazing land to meet the fodder requirements of their animals (Anonymous, 2012). Traditionally, close link exists between livestock and common property resources (CPRs), as grazing is predominate feeding practice among the livestock keepers in hot arid region of India. This complex inter-relationship between CPRs, livestock and crops in arid and semi-arid production systems has contributed to the sustainability of dryland agriculture for generations (Misra et al., 2009). However, the typical scenario of community grazing lands has been one of gradually declining productivity due to overexploitation, and declining area due to privatization. Keeping this in view, Livestock Production Systems & Range Management Division and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) of Central arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur identified pasture development as a major thrust area for the hot arid zone of India. The interventions related to pasture development was carried out on a total of 88 ha common/private land in ten gram panchayat in two districts (Jodhpur and Nagur) of western Rajasthan during 2010-14 in collaboration with local farming communities, NGOs and Goushala.