Improving productivity of common grazing resources in hot arid region of India

through participatory pasture development

A K Misra, R P Singh, Rajendra Kumar* and M M Roy

Central Arid Zone Research Institute

*Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samithi

Jodhpur

INTRODUCTION

• Income from livestock: 22.5 % of the total HH income

• In arid region the contribution of livestock is >50%

• Large areas as common grazing resources are gradually diminishing because of other pressures on land

• Fodder scarcity is becoming an increasing concern for households

Av. Ann. Rainfall

Grasses Shrubs TreesCrop diversification

Range/Pasture- Livestock farming

Agroforestry, Mixed farming Livestock farming

Arable cropping (Crop diversification) Agroforestry Livestock farming

250 450350

Dominant

FS

Farming systems in arid region : Scenario

Livestock systems

Arable

syst

ems

Process adopted

• Systemic and evidence-based analysis to define agreed and effective rules and procedures to use and manage CPRs

• Formation of VDCs, people’s participation and management

• Interventions were jointly planned and implemented by the villagers

• Technical backstopping and improved seed of range grasses KVK, CAZRI

Villages Ketukallan B. Ratangargh Begaria Govindpura

Pasture land (ha)

250 20 37 184

CPR (ha) 991 375 192 843

Pasture developed (ha)

16 13 10 17

Large animals 325 523 412 261Small ruminants

1392 4213 1870 600

Study site

Contribution of grazing in livestock feed

Grazing 31%

Concentrate 3% Green fodder

26%

Dry fodder 40%

FEED CALENDER

Type Months

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Grazing on rangelands

Crop residues in fields

Tree leaves

Tree pods

Weeds and grasses

Feed shortage -------------------- ---- ----------

Ketu K

ala

BhaluRata

ngarh

Begaria

Govin

dpura0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600CPR (ha) ACU (No)

CPR and Livestock

Interventions

• Range grasses:

Cenchrus ciliaris (C.C. 358)

Cenchrus setigerus 

Lasiurus sindicus • Tree components (10 x 10m):

Acacia senegal 

Acacia tortilis

Azadirachta indica 

Prosopis cineraria.

Biomass yield

Ketu Kala BhaluRatangarh Begaria Govindpura0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3Biomass production ( t/ha) Control

t/ha

Higher survival was observed in A. tortilis, followed by A. senegal and lowest in A. indica.

Impact• Harvested biomass was

stored as ‘fodder bank’ for weaker section of the society at reasonable price during stress period

• Two quintal grass seed was provided to Jal Bhagirithi,

Impact• The productivity of animals

increased due to availability of quality fodder during dry months

• Preference for rearing milking animals of better quality become evident against the prevailing practices of keeping large number of animals of less productivity.

Conclusion• Sustainable development in

arid areas can only be achieved through optimum utilization of its natural resources.

• Tremendous scope of increasing livestock productivity by improving fodder resources from CPR

• Favorable policy environment will have to be provided and socio-economic and technical constraints needs to be addressed.

akmishra@cazri.res.in

akmishra@cazri.res.in