Livestock development in marginal areas
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Transcript of Livestock development in marginal areas
Ecologically and socially sustainablelivestock development in marginal
areas
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
23 rd International Grasslands Conference, Delhi
Ecologically and socially sustainablelivestock development in marginal
areas
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
23 rd International Grasslands Conference, Delhi
people are poor,the land 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"
people are poor,the land is overgrazedthe livestock inefficientthe system unproductive
"We need to show them how to improve"
Marginal areas = problem areas
people are poor,the land is overgrazedthe livestock inefficientthe system unproductive
"We need to show them how to improve"
Purpose of this paper:
to reevaluate these assumptions and show thatIndia'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 thatIndia's pastoralists are
• amazingly efficient food producers• do not degrade and instead enhance the land• are usually not poor
India‘s Pastoralists
Inefficient?
India is the world's largest exporter of sheepand goat meat – 23 MT valued at almost 7000million Indian Rupees in 2013.
Feeding UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, andOman…..
India is the world's largest exporter of sheepand goat meat – 23 MT valued at almost 7000million Indian Rupees in 2013.
Feeding UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, andOman…..
India's livestock lagging behind?
• World‘s largest milk producer• World‘s largest exporter of buffalo meat
feeding Southeast Asia and Arab countries
Most of it produced in "traditional" systemswith hardly any resource inputs, just byharvesting 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" systemswith hardly any resource inputs, just byharvesting naturally available biomass.
HUMAN-EDIBLEPROTEIN BALANCE IN
THE LIVESTOCKPRODUCTION OF
SELECTED COUNTRIES(FAO data)
EDIBLE PROTEINOUTPUT/INPUT
EDIBLEPROTEIN
OUTPUT-INPUTTONNES
Balance
AV.2005-2007 AV.2005-2007SaudiArabia 0.19 -659 588
Proteindestroying
USA 0.53 -7 650 830
Proteindestroying
Germany 0.62 -1 183 290
Proteindestroying
Proteindestroying
HUMAN-EDIBLEPROTEIN BALANCE IN
THE LIVESTOCKPRODUCTION OF
SELECTED COUNTRIES(FAO data)
China 0.95 -665 276
Proteindestroying
Netherlands 1.02 18 070 ~evenBrazil 1.17 550 402 ~evenNepal 1.88 40 803 ~evenIndia 4.30 3 379 440 Protein creating
Sudan 8.75 340 895Protein creating
NewZealand 10.06 638 015 Protein creatingMongolia 14.60 35 858 Protein creating
Ethiopia 16.95 141 395Protein creating
Kenya 21.16 202 803 Protein creating
"Traditional" Livestock Systems
People
Depend on• Local/indigenous
breedsgrazing on
• "natural" biodiversevegetation and cropaftermath
BreedsVegetation
Depend on• Local/indigenous
breedsgrazing on
• "natural" biodiversevegetation and cropaftermath
Locally adapted breeds are a crucial component
Independent of external inputs (feed, vet. medicine) Drought resistant and easy to manage Can walk and walk, search out own forage
Pastoralists are astutebreeders,
continuouslyexperimenting for the
most suitablegenotype. This Raika
paid 20,000 Rs for thisram (“Baradi”) as a
lamb
Pastoralists are astutebreeders,
continuouslyexperimenting for the
most suitablegenotype. This Raika
paid 20,000 Rs for thisram (“Baradi”) as a
lamb
Traditional production systems
• Optimally convert local feedresources into food and energy –are independent of external feedand fodder inputs.
• There is a balance betweenlivestock numbers and availableresources.
• Positive effect on biodiversity andnot interfering withwildlife
• Minimal external energy required(if any)
• Optimally convert local feedresources into food and energy –are independent of external feedand fodder inputs.
• There is a balance betweenlivestock numbers and availableresources.
• Positive effect on biodiversity andnot interfering withwildlife
• Minimal external energy required(if any)
Degrading the land?
Nutrient recycling
Access to remote areas food security
Migratory shepherds from Godwararea (Desuri and Bali Tehsils of Pali
District
Dera=herding groupcomposed of 6-20 dolri
DolriPatell
Poor?Income and meat output 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= 330,000kg live weight
• With a dressing percentage of around 50%, thiswould mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs
• All this meat would have been produced withoutany 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= 330,000kg live weight
• With a dressing percentage of around 50%, thiswould mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs
• All this meat would have been produced withoutany use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer,tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.).
Besides meat and dung, milk is also an importantproduct for household consumption and sale (duringpart of the year)
Wild Animal Diversity• Grazing livestock keeps
open nesting habitats ofbirds
• Predator species (wolves,hyenas, leopards, lions)depend on livestock asprey and essential part oftheir diet
(Example Gir Forest in India)• Chilikula buffalo swimming
in lake essential for fishpopulation
• Grazing livestock keepsopen nesting habitats ofbirds
• Predator species (wolves,hyenas, leopards, lions)depend on livestock asprey and essential part oftheir diet
(Example Gir Forest in India)• Chilikula buffalo swimming
in lake essential for fishpopulation
Biological diversity: In Rajasthan camels and goats convert 36different fodder species into milk, meat, manure and fibre
Utilise a wide variety of scattered andseasonally variable tree and grass vegetation
Food products with health benefits
•
The prevailing livestock developentapproach
• Encourages livestock keepers/farmers toswitch to more “productive breeds” and toadopt “modern technologies”.
• Promotes the concept that higher yieldinganimals are automatically more profitable.
• Encourages livestock keepers/farmers toswitch to more “productive breeds” and toadopt “modern technologies”.
• Promotes the concept that higher yieldinganimals are automatically more profitable.
“Modern livestockproduction”
From all perspectives – local livelihoods, livestock production,as well as continued soil fertility – it is adamant and urgentthat the migratory pastoralists are not squeezed out and thatsufficient space for them is retained in the crop cycle!This system is not backward, but ecological and, in that sense,modern.
Ecologically and sustainable livestockdevelopment 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
• How do we change perceptions among policymakers, bureaucrats and even livestock keepersthat local breeds and associated traditionalknowledge are valuable assets?
• How do we counter threats such as shrinkinggrazing lands, disintegration of traditionalinstitutions and knowledge, lack of respect byoutsiders?
• How do we change perceptions among policymakers, bureaucrats and even livestock keepersthat local breeds and associated traditionalknowledge are valuable assets?
• How do we counter threats such as shrinkinggrazing lands, disintegration of traditionalinstitutions and knowledge, lack of respect byoutsiders?
Article 8j of UN Convention onBiological Diversity
• „Contracting parties shall…subject tonational legislation, respect, preserve andmaintain knowledge innovations andpractices of indigenous and localcommunities embodying traditionallifestyles relevant for the conservation andsustainable use of biological diversity…..“
.
• „Contracting parties shall…subject tonational legislation, respect, preserve andmaintain knowledge innovations andpractices of indigenous and localcommunities embodying traditionallifestyles relevant for the conservation andsustainable use of biological diversity…..“
.
Article 10: Contracting parties shall..
• c. Protect and encourage customary use of biologicalresources in accordance with traditional cultural practicesthat are compatible with conservation and sustainable userequirements
• d. Support local populations to develop and implementremedial action in degraded areas where biologicaldiversity has been reduced
• c. Protect and encourage customary use of biologicalresources in accordance with traditional cultural practicesthat are compatible with conservation and sustainable userequirements
• d. Support local populations to develop and implementremedial action in degraded areas where biologicaldiversity has been reduced
A new tool: Biocultural Community Protocols
• Backed by the Nagoya Protocolof the UN-Convention onBiological Diversity
• Tool for claiming status as„indigenous or localcommunity….“
• Biocultural Protocols documentthe role of a community inconserving animal geneticresources and eco-systems,contribute to visibility andawareness
• Backed by the Nagoya Protocolof the UN-Convention onBiological Diversity
• Tool for claiming status as„indigenous or localcommunity….“
• Biocultural Protocols documentthe role of a community inconserving animal geneticresources and eco-systems,contribute to visibility andawareness
Biocultural Protocols
• are a tool for documenting bio-assets, productionsystems, products.
• give a voice to pastoralists and other small-scalelivestock keepers.
• raise awareness about culture and tradition to addresschallenges, such as cross breeding and productinnovations
• Invoke rights (grazing, breeding)• Generate information exchange and communication
with other stakeholders
• are a tool for documenting bio-assets, productionsystems, products.
• give a voice to pastoralists and other small-scalelivestock keepers.
• raise awareness about culture and tradition to addresschallenges, such as cross breeding and productinnovations
• Invoke rights (grazing, breeding)• Generate information exchange and communication
with other stakeholders
Raika of Rajasthan (India)
Banni Maldhari of Gujarat (India)
Bargur Hill Cattle Breeders (Lingayat) ofTamil Nadu (India)
Jaisalmer Camel Breeders and manyothers....
Possible benefits and incentives forlivestock keepers
• Monetary rewards at national level throughpayments for environmental services, such ascarbon sequestration and biodiversityconservation.
• Provision of an enabling environment thatsupports them to continue their livelihood andbreed conservation activities (livestockkeepers rights, grazing rights, services).
• Support for developing a special label forlivestock products from bio-diversity basedproduction systems (“Ark of Bio-diversity”)
• Monetary rewards at national level throughpayments for environmental services, such ascarbon sequestration and biodiversityconservation.
• Provision of an enabling environment thatsupports them to continue their livelihood andbreed conservation activities (livestockkeepers rights, grazing rights, services).
• Support for developing a special label forlivestock products from bio-diversity basedproduction systems (“Ark of Bio-diversity”)
Conclusion
Livestock mantra is "more with less"Sustainable intensification
Pastoralists produce "everything withnothing"
Extensification !
Livestock mantra is "more with less"Sustainable intensification
Pastoralists produce "everything withnothing"
Extensification !
Acknowledgments• LPPS, Hanwant Singh
and Dailibai Raika• LIFE Network
partners: Gopikrishna,Dr. Athani, NilkanthKuruba, Dr. BalaramSahu
• Rainfed LivestockNetwork: KamalKishore
• IIED
• LPPS, Hanwant Singhand Dailibai Raika
• LIFE Networkpartners: Gopikrishna,Dr. Athani, NilkanthKuruba, Dr. BalaramSahu
• Rainfed LivestockNetwork: KamalKishore
• IIED
Thank you!