FOREWORD
The
Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group or Network (TAPAFON) was formed
in 1995 when the first meeting was held in Kathmandu,
Held in the “International Year of Mountains “ the main theme was “ Sustainable Mountain Development - Agro-pastoral systems and Fodder Crops”, and for the first time a guest speaker from Tibet, China participated and a cereal breeder from New Zealand was a major contributor in the session on fodder oats. The meeting programme in Wangdue included five sessions with paper presentations and discussions on Agro-pastoral systems in Bhutan, the role of agro-pastoral systems in sustainable development of mountanous regions, reflections on research and extension (focusing on fodder resources and pastoral systems in mountain regions); technology transfer; fodder oats- a forage crop for mountain areas, and concluded with a plenary session where Working Group business and future activities were discussed. For the first time a number of posters were displayed. Among the various recommendations and resolutions for follow-up was the formation of a Fodder Oat Network within the existing working group. It is hoped that readers will find that this proceedings well reflects the meeting and that the papers will be widely read.
Our thanks to Mr. Tsering Gyaltsen and his Meeting Organising Committee who have overseen the process of editing the various papers and preparing the manuscript for publication and for ensuring that proceedings appeared on time. Also, thanks to them for their outstanding efforts which ensured that the fifth Working Group Meeting was such a success and to all those in Thimphu, Paro, Wangdue and Phobjikha for extending such warm hospitality to participants.
I look forward for working closely with the National Coordinators in future and to the continued success of the Working Group.
S. G. Reynolds
Senior Officer
Grassland and Pasture Group
Crop and Grassland Service
Plant Production and Protection Division
FAO, Rome, Italy
The fifth meeting of the Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Network (TAPAFON) could finally be organized in Bhutan despite recommendation since the third meeting held in Pokhara, Nepal in 1998. Although we had apprehensions in hosting such an international gathering, there was no way that we could get away this time by not holding the fifth meeting since some of the member countries had already hosted the meeting twice.
The fifth meeting was held in the beautiful valley of Wangdue Phodrang at the Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre, Bajo. It was an honour for Bhutan and particularly for the organizing committee to organize such an international meeting coinciding with the "International Year of the Mountains". The theme of the meeting was appropriately called "Sustainable Mountain Development-Agro-pastoral Systems and Fodder Crops".
The meeting has been highly successful with attendance of a cereal breeder from New Zealand and a guest speaker from Tibetan Autonomous Region, China in addition to the National coordinators and participants from the member countries of Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan. The meeting has been successful in that, some strong resolutions were drawn up and passed by the meeting to further strengthen the network in the future. The meeting also endorsed the formation of a TAPAFON Fodder Oat Network, which will be used as a main theme during the 6th TAPAFON meeting to be held in Palampur, India in 2004.
It is to express our regrets in not meeting the deadline for publishing this proceeding. The proceedings would have been further delayed had it not been for the constant push and support rendered by Dr. S.G Reynolds, Senior Officer, AGPC, FAO Rome. We would also like to acknowledge with gratitude the support and help provided by Dr. Lungten Norbu, and his colleagues Dophu Drukpa, GemThinley, and T.B. Rai of the RNR Research Centre Yusipang to expedite the publication of this proceeding.
We wish all of you a very happy reading.
(Kinzang Wangdi)
Program Director (Livestock Research)
RNR Research Centre Jakar
Bumthang.
For and on behalf of the editors
Introduction of TAPAFON ( FAO) Working Group Activities
Dr. Stephen George Reynolds, Senior Officer, (AGPC), FAO, Rome, Italy.
Chief Guest Hon. Dasho Dzongdag, Wangdue Dzongkhahg,
Dr. Pema Choephyel, Director, DRDS/MoA,
Mr. Kinzang Wangdi, Program Director, RC, Jakar,
Regional Coordinator, Dr. S.M. Rafique,
National Coordinator and Meeting Organizer, Mr. Tsering Gyaltsen,
Mr. Phintsho Dorji, the representative from FAO Office,
National Coordinators and distinguished scientists from Bhutan, Tibet (china), New -Zealand, India, Nepal and Pakistan,
Participants, Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of the Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO, I would like to welcome you to this Temperate (or Himalayan) Pasture and Fodder Group Meeting which has been organized under the very able leadership of Mr. Tsering Gyaltsen and which is being sponsored by the Grassland and Pasture Group of the Crop and Grassland Service (AGPC) of FAO. Most significantly this meeting is being held in the International Year of Mountains with the MAIN THEME: “ Sustainable Mountain Development- agro-pastoral systems and fodder crops”. This is just one of many meetings being held to celebrate the International Year of Mountains and I hope that there will be many others here in Bhutan. [Most of you have received a folder with details of the International Year of Mountains].
This is the fifth such meeting of the Working Group and the first to be held in Bhutan. It is also my second visit to Bhutan and I am very pleased indeed to be returning again to this beautiful country. The idea for a network of scientists working on pastures and fodder crops in the Himalayan countries were first discussed in 1993, largely as a follow on from a UNDP/FAO project. A core group of 4 countries – Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan – was identified and the first Working Group meeting was held in Kathmandu in 1995, the second in India at Dehra Dun in 1996, the third at Pokhara in Nepal in 1998 and the fourth in Peshawar, Pakistan in June 2000.
Most of you will be fully familiar with the concept of the “Pasture and Fodder Sub-Regional Working Group”, a concept that has been developed over the years by the Grassland and Pasture Group of FAO. Through this programme a number of working groups have been developed in different parts of the world. Presently there are six active groups in Latin America (3), Africa (1) and Asia (2).
Each Working Group is based on areas of similar ecology and production systems and the group permits the identification and discussion of problems and priorities for pasture and fodder research, and exchange of information between workers in similar fields, thus assuring inter-country technology transfer and avoiding duplication of research effort; the groups also carry out modest programmes of demonstration and investigation through national institutions and FAO has through the WGs arranged a number of training courses such as the fodder tree training courses in Philippines and India, and also a series of fodder seed production courses in East Africa (the most recent just completed in March 2002 in Arusha, Tanzania) and various meetings and field days in Latin America.
Previous mention has been made of expanding the WG to bring in, for example, China. Largely because of the shortage of funds (FAO budgets have been considerably reduced in the last few years) and for other reasons it has not been possible to expand the size of the WG although FAO has ongoing activities in China on irrigated conserved fodder, alfalfa selection for cold tolerance, introduction of fodder crop technology from Pakistan (Dr. Dost Muhammad has been active with several visits to northwest China for FAO) and hay making in Mongolia. So we have not abandoned the idea of including China and with visits of Dr. Dost we have established linkages between this Group and China. Also, as a result of a past visit to Lhasa, for the first time this year I have established links with Tibet and using other resources we are fortunate to have with us Mr. Yang Qingshou who will be delivering a paper in the Fodder Oats session. So this is our first meeting when someone from China is present, so welcome Mr. Yang Qingshou.
I think, as I have mentioned on a number of occasions, the group members need to consider the future of the WG and to discuss and explore ways to further developing it and considering how the Group should operate and should there, for example, be more emphasis on linkages with other organizations and an attempt to develop joint activities…. Over recent years the WG has carried out a number of mountain range studies which have now come to an end and for which we hope to shortly publish some of the results (with others from China and Mongolia) in a publication to be entitled “ Transhumant Grazing Systems in Temperate Asia”. The Group will need to consider where we to go from here. One interesting development over the last two years has been preparation of a number of Country Forage/Pasture Resource Profiles (these have been done for India, Nepal and Pakistan and are now available on the FAO Grassland Group Homepage on the Internet, plus I have displays of these plus hard copies can be made available later for each participant). We now have available the first draft of the profile for Bhutan. One subject I hope to focus later in the meeting is Fodder Oats and a possible regional cooperation network, and Keith Armstrong from New Zealand will contribute two papers in this session including some details of possible trial design etc.
We are also moving towards a time when Groups must begin to think about generating and attracting sponsorship and additional funds to those, which FAO has traditionally provided. We have examples in Latin America where large ranches or agri-business/ commercial companies are willing to assist towards meeting costs. This may result in their logos appearing on meeting briefcases or may be response for technical advice given freely by Group members but it is a significant move. Last year at the SE Asian WG Meeting a number of farm manager participants from Philippines sponsored their own airfares that are a move of some significance and for next years meeting in Malaysia FAO will contribute only 50% of the cost of the meeting as MARDI and private business will provide the other 50%. These are interesting developments which auger well for the longer term health of the WGs.
We now have before us nearly 5 days of presentations, discussions, field visits and decision making, before we disperse on Sunday 5 May and go our separate ways. I look forward to hearing presentations from each of the countries, to discussing a range of issues as well as various issues related to the WG, including communications and future activities. Better communications are fundamental to the functioning of the WG and while we now have the WG Web Page including a Bulletin Board on the FAO Web page, we need to focus on this aspect to see how communication can be improved in the period between WG meetings, as this continues to be a weak area of WG development, in spite of the more widespread availability and use of e-mail. Our thanks also to Dr. Rafique from Pakistan, for the excellent job he did both in organizing and holding the previous meeting in Peshawar and in getting the Proceedings published; if anyone needs a copy I think that there are still copies available.
I know that Tsering Gyaltsen and his team have put a great deal of effort into planning and arranging for this meeting. For which our thanks in anticipation of a successful meeting.
Once again, welcome. The theme for our meeting is “ Sustainable Mountain Development- agro-pastoral systems and fodder crops”. I trust that you will find the meeting stimulating and worthwhile. We look forward to a successful WG meeting and to frank discussions on the various issues which will be raised and by the time we say goodbye to each other on Sunday I trust that not only will we have had a very useful meeting but also that we will have got to know each other better, that we will all look forward to working together in future in the spirit of sustainable mountain development and improved livelihoods for mountain peoples.
Key Note Address By the Chief Guest – Dasho Pem L. Dorji, Dzongdag, Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag
Dr. Stephen Reynolds, Sr. Officer, Grassland and Pasture Crop, FAO, Rome; Director, DRDS, Dr. Keith Armstrong from New Zealand, Mr. Phintsho Dorji, Officer In-Charge, FAO Bhutan, Distinguished Delegates from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Ladies and Gentlemen.
At the outset, let me welcome you all and especially the international delegates to Bhutan and particularly to Wangdue Phodrang District.
It is a matter of great pride that we have been given the opportunity to host the 5th Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Network (TAPAFON) meeting in my district.
It is also an immense pleasure for me to be amongst you today and would like to express my appreciation for the opportunity given to inaugurate the opening session of this important weeklong meeting.
The 5th TAPAFON meeting has been titled “Addressing Sustainable Mountain Development – Agro-Pastoral Systems and Fodder Crops”. This is a befitting title coinciding with the global celebration of the ‘International Year of the Mountains’. It is also an appropriate title for Bhutan where the country is exclusively mountainous.
Bhutan’s population is highly agrarian, where 80% of the people depend on agriculture. And because of the rugged topography and the availability of only 8% of the total land area for arable cultivation, livestock has an increasingly important role to play in the enhancement of the Bhutanese livelihood. The contribution of livestock to Bhutan’s GDP stands at 10%. This contribution does not however consider the contribution made to arable agriculture in terms of draught power and manure.
Therefore, considering the important role of livestock in the Bhutanese farming system, we are happy that such a meeting is being held in Bhutan. I am sure that we will greatly benefit from the outcome of the workshop.
I must also put on record our gratitude to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Ministry of agriculture has always been a beneficiary of the FAO assistance. The erstwhile Department of Animal Husbandry has received immense support from the FAO which sponsored the former “Himalayan Fodder and Grassland Network Project” in the late seventies and early eighties. The project has contributed in the formulation of grassland and fodder technologies to improve the livestock husbandry in the country. Several people have also been trained and their professional capacities enhanced through this former project.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to inform you that Bhutan’s association with the TAPAFON which is actually an extension of the former Himalayan Fodder Grasslands Network goes a long way.
We are happy to be part of TAPAFON now, since its re-christening in 1995, where professionals from the region working on fodder and pasture of similar ecology and production systems come together once in two years. This is an important forum where different experiences are shared, professional contacts are made and the common regional problems in pasture and fodder development are discussed and prioritised. I am sure that all member countries of the core group (Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan) stand to gain by this interaction.
Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me once again welcome you to Wangdue Valley. I hope you will have a very fruitful deliberation of the workshop and a successful field trip to Phobjikha over the next few days.
Thank You and Tashi Delek.
On behalf of the Fifth TAPAFON meeting organizing committee, it is my privilege, pleasure and honour to offer my deep gratitude to you, Dasho, for having taken time out of your busy schedule to be with us and inaugurate the fifth meeting of “Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Network on Sustainable Mountain Development- Agro-pastoral systems and fodder crops” in Himalayan region. Dasho’s kind advice and suggestions in your inaugural address will not only be kept in mind but taken-up as our guiding principle for the workshop deliberations.
I would also like to thank Lams for their kind presence and gracing this workshop.
I express my sincere gratitude to Dasho Sangay Thinley, the Hon’ble Secretary of MoA, the Director and Joint Director of DRDS, Ministry of Agriculture for their valuable comments and support rendered in the process of organizing this workshop.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Kinzang Wangdi, Program Director, Dr. Walter Roder, Advisor, RC, Jakar and Dr. Lungten Norbu, Program Director, RC Yusipang for their valuable comments, thought provoking ideas and suggestions. It is because of their suggestions that the members of the organizing committee were able to organize the workshop here in this beautiful valley of Wangdue.
I would like to thank Dr. Stephen Reynolds, Senior Officer, FAO/AGPC, Rome for his dynamic guidance and support to make this workshop properly arranged and start as per the schedule. Without his support and guidance, this meeting would not have taken place. At the same time let me thank FAO, Rome for the fund they have provided in organizing this meeting.
I would also like to acknowledge the support and guidance from Dr. S.M.Rafique, Regional Coordinator, TAPAFON.
Let me also convey our thanks to Mr. Phintsho Dorji, OIC, FAO Bhutan and his staff for the kind support and allowing me to use their internet facility anytime I wanted. I would personally like to thank Aum Sangay Wangmo for taking all troubles in conveying daily e-mail messages for last the one-month.
This is a great opportunity for all of us here to extend our thanks to Mr. Sangay Duba, Program Director and his staff of RNR RC, Bajo for being very generous and kind in making all the facilities available for us to use and extending support of all kinds in organizing the workshop here.
It is also a great pleasure to have Dr. Keith Armstrong from New Zealand and Mr. Yang Qing Shou from China for their kind presence here to attend this workshop.
I extend my heartiest welcome to distinguished National Coordinators and participants from India, Nepal and Pakistan for attending this meeting.
Once more, I would like to thank Hon’ble Chief guest, Dasho Dzongda, Lams, distinguished guests, experts and scientists who have been kind enough to join us at the inaugural ceremony of the Fifth TAPAFON meeting.
Thank you/Tashi Delek.
Tsering Gyaltsen,
National Coordinator
TAPAFON Bhutan