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Livestock development in marginal areas
The document discusses the ecologically and socially sustainable livestock development practices of pastoralists in marginal areas of India, emphasizing their efficiency in food production, land enhancement, and minimal reliance on external resources. It critiques perceptions of pastoralists as inefficient and poor, highlighting their significant contributions to food security and biodiversity while advocating for the recognition of traditional systems and rights. Additionally, it proposes measures, including biocultural community protocols and financial incentives, to support these livestock keepers and ensure their practices are preserved and enhanced.
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Livestock development in marginal areas
- 1. Ecologically and sociallysustainable livestock development in marginal areas Ilse Köhler-Rollefson 23 rd International Grasslands Conference, Delhi Ecologically and socially sustainable livestock development in marginal areas Ilse Köhler-Rollefson 23 rd International Grasslands Conference, Delhi
- 2. people are poor, theland is overgrazed and degraded…. the livestock inefficient…. the system unproductive…. "We need to show them how to improve" Marginal areas = problem areas people are poor, the land is overgrazed and degraded…. the livestock inefficient…. the system unproductive…. "We need to show them how to improve"
- 3. people are poor, theland is overgrazed the livestock inefficient the system unproductive "We need to show them how to improve" Marginal areas = problem areas people are poor, the land is overgrazed the livestock inefficient the system unproductive "We need to show them how to improve"
- 4. Purpose of thispaper: to reevaluate these assumptions and show that India's pastoralists are • amazingly efficient food producers • do not degrade and instead enhance the land • are usually not poor to reevaluate these assumptions and show that India's pastoralists are • amazingly efficient food producers • do not degrade and instead enhance the land • are usually not poor
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- 6. Inefficient? India is theworld's largest exporter of sheep and goat meat – 23 MT valued at almost 7000 million Indian Rupees in 2013. Feeding UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman….. India is the world's largest exporter of sheep and goat meat – 23 MT valued at almost 7000 million Indian Rupees in 2013. Feeding UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman…..
- 7. India's livestock laggingbehind? • World‘s largest milk producer • World‘s largest exporter of buffalo meat feeding Southeast Asia and Arab countries Most of it produced in "traditional" systems with hardly any resource inputs, just by harvesting naturally available biomass. • World‘s largest milk producer • World‘s largest exporter of buffalo meat feeding Southeast Asia and Arab countries Most of it produced in "traditional" systems with hardly any resource inputs, just by harvesting naturally available biomass.
- 8. HUMAN-EDIBLE PROTEIN BALANCE IN THELIVESTOCK PRODUCTION OF SELECTED COUNTRIES (FAO data) EDIBLE PROTEIN OUTPUT/INPUT EDIBLE PROTEIN OUTPUT-INPUT TONNES Balance AV.2005-2007 AV.2005-2007 Saudi Arabia 0.19 -659 588 Protein destroying USA 0.53 -7 650 830 Protein destroying Germany 0.62 -1 183 290 Protein destroying Protein destroying HUMAN-EDIBLE PROTEIN BALANCE IN THE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION OF SELECTED COUNTRIES (FAO data) China 0.95 -665 276 Protein destroying Netherland s 1.02 18 070 ~even Brazil 1.17 550 402 ~even Nepal 1.88 40 803 ~even India 4.30 3 379 440 Protein creating Sudan 8.75 340 895 Protein creating New Zealand 10.06 638 015 Protein creating Mongolia 14.60 35 858 Protein creating Ethiopia 16.95 141 395 Protein creating Kenya 21.16 202 803 Protein creating
- 9. "Traditional" Livestock Systems People Dependon • Local/indigenous breeds grazing on • "natural" biodiverse vegetation and crop aftermath BreedsVegetation Depend on • Local/indigenous breeds grazing on • "natural" biodiverse vegetation and crop aftermath
- 10. Locally adapted breedsare a crucial component Independent of external inputs (feed, vet. medicine) Drought resistant and easy to manage Can walk and walk, search out own forage
- 11. Pastoralists are astute breeders, continuously experimentingfor the most suitable genotype. This Raika paid 20,000 Rs for this ram (“Baradi”) as a lamb Pastoralists are astute breeders, continuously experimenting for the most suitable genotype. This Raika paid 20,000 Rs for this ram (“Baradi”) as a lamb
- 12. Traditional production systems •Optimally convert local feed resources into food and energy – are independent of external feed and fodder inputs. • There is a balance between livestock numbers and available resources. • Positive effect on biodiversity and not interfering withwildlife • Minimal external energy required (if any) • Optimally convert local feed resources into food and energy – are independent of external feed and fodder inputs. • There is a balance between livestock numbers and available resources. • Positive effect on biodiversity and not interfering withwildlife • Minimal external energy required (if any)
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- 16. Access to remoteareas food security
- 17. Migratory shepherds fromGodwar area (Desuri and Bali Tehsils of Pali District
- 18. Dera=herding group composed of6-20 dolri DolriPatell
- 19. Poor? Income and meatoutput of sample area• Min. 40 deras with an average of 3500 ewes= ca. 140,000 ewes. • These produce ca. 30,000 saleable male lambs@ Rs. 2500= Rs. 75,000,000, • 11kg liveweight for a 2-3 months old lamb= 330,000 kg live weight • With a dressing percentage of around 50%, this would mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs • All this meat would have been produced without any use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer, tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.). • Min. 40 deras with an average of 3500 ewes= ca. 140,000 ewes. • These produce ca. 30,000 saleable male lambs@ Rs. 2500= Rs. 75,000,000, • 11kg liveweight for a 2-3 months old lamb= 330,000 kg live weight • With a dressing percentage of around 50%, this would mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs • All this meat would have been produced without any use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer, tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.).
- 20. Besides meat anddung, milk is also an important product for household consumption and sale (during part of the year)
- 21. Wild Animal Diversity •Grazing livestock keeps open nesting habitats of birds • Predator species (wolves, hyenas, leopards, lions) depend on livestock as prey and essential part of their diet (Example Gir Forest in India) • Chilikula buffalo swimming in lake essential for fish population • Grazing livestock keeps open nesting habitats of birds • Predator species (wolves, hyenas, leopards, lions) depend on livestock as prey and essential part of their diet (Example Gir Forest in India) • Chilikula buffalo swimming in lake essential for fish population
- 22. Biological diversity: InRajasthan camels and goats convert 36 different fodder species into milk, meat, manure and fibre
- 23. Utilise a widevariety of scattered and seasonally variable tree and grass vegetation
- 24. Food products withhealth benefits
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- 26. The prevailing livestockdevelopent approach • Encourages livestock keepers/farmers to switch to more “productive breeds” and to adopt “modern technologies”. • Promotes the concept that higher yielding animals are automatically more profitable. • Encourages livestock keepers/farmers to switch to more “productive breeds” and to adopt “modern technologies”. • Promotes the concept that higher yielding animals are automatically more profitable.
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- 28. From all perspectives– local livelihoods, livestock production, as well as continued soil fertility – it is adamant and urgent that the migratory pastoralists are not squeezed out and that sufficient space for them is retained in the crop cycle! This system is not backward, but ecological and, in that sense, modern.
- 29. Ecologically and sustainablelivestock development in marginal areas Would • Recognize and acknowledge the value of the "traditional" systems • Facilitate and support mobility • Protect and provide services to pastoralists • Ensure space and protect the customary rights of pastoralists Would • Recognize and acknowledge the value of the "traditional" systems • Facilitate and support mobility • Protect and provide services to pastoralists • Ensure space and protect the customary rights of pastoralists
- 30. • How dowe change perceptions among policy makers, bureaucrats and even livestock keepers that local breeds and associated traditional knowledge are valuable assets? • How do we counter threats such as shrinking grazing lands, disintegration of traditional institutions and knowledge, lack of respect by outsiders? • How do we change perceptions among policy makers, bureaucrats and even livestock keepers that local breeds and associated traditional knowledge are valuable assets? • How do we counter threats such as shrinking grazing lands, disintegration of traditional institutions and knowledge, lack of respect by outsiders?
- 31. Article 8j ofUN Convention on Biological Diversity • „Contracting parties shall…subject to national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity…..“ . • „Contracting parties shall…subject to national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity…..“ .
- 32. Article 10: Contractingparties shall.. • c. Protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation and sustainable use requirements • d. Support local populations to develop and implement remedial action in degraded areas where biological diversity has been reduced • c. Protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation and sustainable use requirements • d. Support local populations to develop and implement remedial action in degraded areas where biological diversity has been reduced
- 33. A new tool:Biocultural Community Protocols • Backed by the Nagoya Protocol of the UN-Convention on Biological Diversity • Tool for claiming status as „indigenous or local community….“ • Biocultural Protocols document the role of a community in conserving animal genetic resources and eco-systems, contribute to visibility and awareness • Backed by the Nagoya Protocol of the UN-Convention on Biological Diversity • Tool for claiming status as „indigenous or local community….“ • Biocultural Protocols document the role of a community in conserving animal genetic resources and eco-systems, contribute to visibility and awareness
- 34. Biocultural Protocols • area tool for documenting bio-assets, production systems, products. • give a voice to pastoralists and other small-scale livestock keepers. • raise awareness about culture and tradition to address challenges, such as cross breeding and product innovations • Invoke rights (grazing, breeding) • Generate information exchange and communication with other stakeholders • are a tool for documenting bio-assets, production systems, products. • give a voice to pastoralists and other small-scale livestock keepers. • raise awareness about culture and tradition to address challenges, such as cross breeding and product innovations • Invoke rights (grazing, breeding) • Generate information exchange and communication with other stakeholders
- 35. Raika of Rajasthan(India)
- 36. Banni Maldhari ofGujarat (India)
- 37. Bargur Hill CattleBreeders (Lingayat) of Tamil Nadu (India)
- 38. Jaisalmer Camel Breedersand many others....
- 39. Possible benefits andincentives for livestock keepers • Monetary rewards at national level through payments for environmental services, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. • Provision of an enabling environment that supports them to continue their livelihood and breed conservation activities (livestock keepers rights, grazing rights, services). • Support for developing a special label for livestock products from bio-diversity based production systems (“Ark of Bio-diversity”) • Monetary rewards at national level through payments for environmental services, such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. • Provision of an enabling environment that supports them to continue their livelihood and breed conservation activities (livestock keepers rights, grazing rights, services). • Support for developing a special label for livestock products from bio-diversity based production systems (“Ark of Bio-diversity”)
- 40. Conclusion Livestock mantra is"more with less" Sustainable intensification Pastoralists produce "everything with nothing" Extensification ! Livestock mantra is "more with less" Sustainable intensification Pastoralists produce "everything with nothing" Extensification !
- 41. Acknowledgments • LPPS, HanwantSingh and Dailibai Raika • LIFE Network partners: Gopikrishna, Dr. Athani, Nilkanth Kuruba, Dr. Balaram Sahu • Rainfed Livestock Network: Kamal Kishore • IIED • LPPS, Hanwant Singh and Dailibai Raika • LIFE Network partners: Gopikrishna, Dr. Athani, Nilkanth Kuruba, Dr. Balaram Sahu • Rainfed Livestock Network: Kamal Kishore • IIED
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