Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Actionable points for the WGEA : Issues of Concern : Animal nutrition – Feeding and grazing : Improving the fodder and vegetation resources

Opinion
       24/11/2018
                1563.

Sub : Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Actionable points for the WGEA : Issues of Concern : Animal nutrition – Feeding and grazing : Improving the fodder and vegetation resources.

Ref : Issues of Concern : Animal nutrition – Feeding and grazing : Improving the fodder and vegetation resources.

I. Animal nutrition – Feeding and grazing

Improving the fodder and vegetation resources

Attempts should be made to restore community grasslands and forest grazing lands outside the Protected Areas. Unused public land may be converted to fodder cultivating lands, the work force for which could be managed from the MGNREGP or similar on-going projects. Systems of rotational grazing and grazing management have to be developed at the village level to prevent over exploitation of resources, help resource regeneration, and also to meet the needs of different communities. Village communities should be supported to plan their fodder requirements and to adopt suitable methods by which fodder can be grown and managed. Importance must be given to varied fodder trees, grasses, forbs and shrubs and their protection. Improved systems of storing fodder for scarcity periods especially in the case of grasses also have to be encouraged.

Goat-rearing projects should consider local browsing areas and should not be dependent on forest areas. Cultivation of fodder plants should be a major component in such projects. Stall feeding of goats should be encouraged in areas where the ecological situation is very fragile and where goat-based livelihood needs to be protected.
A second crop of fodder in paddy fields using residual moisture is advisable.

Application of weedicides in cash crop areas alongside roads must be prohibited, since almost all plants classified as weeds are in fact rich cattle fodder, and much livestock grazing occurs along roadsides.

Grazing restrictions imposed on the grounds of forest conservation should be revisited in such a way that traditional culture and ways of life of local communities are not affected while protecting the regeneration of forest plant species.

II. Commercial dairy farming :

Animal husbandry practices must be integrated with other agriculture activities for sustainability; therefore an integrated approach involving allied sectors is important in planning animal husbandry activities.
Since agriculture in the Western Ghats is proposed to be totally organic, animal husbandry has a vital role to play. The rejuvenation process of the over-exploited land itself would, certainly, require large quantities of organic matter. The only sustainable source for this is cattle rearing.

Since milk production is an important sector, assistance such as veterinary facilities, animal health surveillance, and feed subsidies may be provided to progress largely towards stall-fed cattle. Good cattle sheds and scientific practices must be provided to the farmers.

Instead of larger dairy farming units, mini-dairy units with 3–4 cattle many be encouraged, particularly for women self-help groups.

An integrated approach of cultivating paddy, millets, legumes and other food crops which besides providing nutritional security to the farmer’s household in turn would also supply enough fodder for the stall-fed group of cattle should be encouraged and financially assisted.

Every household in the Western Ghats area having two dairy animals may be financially assisted to build biogas plants which will not only improve their living conditions but also help reduce the dependence on firewood to some extent. Moreover, the slurry from the biogas plant could be used as manure. This may also be thought of at a village level where larger biogas plants could be maintained.

III. Convert tea estates to organic production with the integration of animal husbandry :

Since tea estates occupy large land holdings in the southern Western Ghats and since there is a heavy demand for organic tea internationally, attempts should be made to integrate animal husbandry with tea cultivation. Unused land in tea estates could be used for stall fed cattle rearing and the organic manure thus produced used for tea plantation.
Earlier, tea estate labourers reared cattle within the estates, a practice which has been recently disallowed by the management. This practice can be restored and strengthened. The manure produced may be used as fertilizer for the plantation, thus achieving the production of organic tea and organically produced milk simultaneously

IV. Use of weedicides in tea plantations must be completely stopped. :

Animal health Livestock in the Western Ghats region is prone to a number of diseases. In view of the limited veterinary services available, the animal husbandry department should extend veterinary services to these livestock especially preventive measures such as regular vaccinations and de-worming for controlling diseases. It would be ideal if every village had its own animal health worker who was trained in giving vaccinations, first aid, elements of traditional veterinary practices, ethnoveterinary medicine using locally available plants, as well as dealing with veterinary emergencies.

Cultivation of medicinal plants Plants with medicinal properties have been used traditionally for treating domestic animals. However, several important naturally occurring medicinal plants in the Western Ghats are being over-exploited and have become locally extinct or rare. These plants should be grown on a large scale, even in the backyard of every tribal hut and other settlements. It would, therefore, be advisable to start nurseries for medicinal plants as well as medicine making units at the Panchayat level which should run on a cooperative basis. These medicines would then make the local communities less dependent on distant health services for themselves as well as for their cattle.

Educating and sensitizing school students about animal husbandry It is important to educate students about their domestic and local livestock diversity, and the need for preserving and restoring it considering the crucial role that these animals play in the sustainable development of the area. ‚Exploring our environment: a manual for green schools‛ produced by Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education, Pune, is an excellent example of a document that also emphasises local livestock breeds.

V. Marketing livestock produce. :

Wherever marketing is a problem, all animal-derived products need to be processed into non-perishable forms. Value addition into products which are of low bulk but command a good price is necessary. The earlier practice of converting surplus milk into ghee and khoya needs to be revived. It is also possible to experiment with new products such as cheese and yoghurt. However, care must be taken to ensure high degree quality control in the products derived so that they could command premium prices.

NEXT : 2.4 Fisheries : Issues of Concern

JAIHIND
VANDE MATARAM

241/48