STATUS OF
FODDER PRODUCTION AND PASTORAL SYSTEMS IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINOUS REGION, NWFP-PAKISTAN Dr. S.M. Rafique Range Management Officer |
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Abstract This paper analyses the prevailing fodder production levels and pastoral systems of northern mountainous region. This region, covering an area of 4697 thousand ha, comprises of steep rugged mountainous slopes and plateau interspersed with gorges and narrow valleys. The major land uses of the region are grazing, forest and agriculture. The region is sparsely populated and the populace is generally farmers who own livestock in small herds, which rely on forage from ranges, crop residues and cultivated fodder crops on small scales. Less than 20% farmers on less than 5% of their cultivated area grow the conventional fodder crops, which have low production. Cultivated fodder production is meagre. The paper estimated that there is acute shortage of feed supply in the tune of about 41% on dried material (DM) basis. Further the green fodder is available only seasonally for short duration, mostly in summer and there is acute shortage of green fodder in autumn and winter seasons. The transhumance grazing system is in vogue in the alpine and sub-alpine zones of the region. The sedentary transhumance grazing, where the valley residents move their animals in the summer is also practiced. The paper suggests that there is not only need to improve ranges for enhancing forage production but also cultivated fodder’s through applied research on nutritious and high yielding fodder crops. Provision of extension services to the farmers is also desirable. IntroductionThe North West Frontier Province (NWFP) is situated in the extreme
northern parts of Livestock Sector plays an important role in rural economy and its shares in GDP are estimated more than 34 percent. It accounted for 10-25 percent of income of small farmers and landless livestock holders. Despite the importance it is most neglected sector in the region. Resultantly livestock are under nourished and under productive. Development of fodder resources is a prerequisite for balanced and sustainable development and growth in agriculture as the demand of livestock and its products is increasing with increase in human population. The province in particular and the country in general is deficient in meat and milk production. Only good planning, effective policy and community participation could make productive the agro-pastoral systems in long term. There is need to improve and develop fodder/forage production to meet the feed deficiency. Forages are the major source of feed for livestock in the region, which are produced on range, lands, pastures, meadows and cultivated lands. The total maintenance and protein requirements of 8.1 million livestock head are 6.5 million tones total digestible nutrient (TDN) and 1.0 million tones digestible protein (DP) which are met from fodders, crop residues, forages and ration supplement. On the average 39 percent TDN and 52 percent CP are deficient, which is equivalent to 41 percent dry matter (DM), (Table 1). Maintaining a productive agro-pastoral system is dependent on efficient utilization of forage crops in farming practices. The main reason for low performance of livestock sector is rapidly decreasing livestock feed resources. Improving livestock production requires improving the quality and quantity of fodders/forages. Table 1: Estimated Availability, Requirement and Balance of Feed Nutrients in NWFP
Fodder Production The status of current use of rangelands has been described in details in the paper presented under Session-III. In this section additional information on crop residues will be provided. Further fodder production from cultivated fodders would be dealt in with more details in the following paragraphs. These data are applicable to the northern mountainous region of NWFP only. Crop Residues Feeding of different types of crop residues, as cheep livestock feed, is commonly practiced in the country as well as in the study region, beside others. The crop residues include; wheat straw, barley straw, rice straw, maize stover, millet stover, sugarcane tops and pulse’s straw. The maize stover is of highest quantity (817 thousand tones or 55 percent of total crop residues) followed by 513 thousand tones of wheat straw. These two cereal crops are important staple food in the region. Table 2: Quantity of Different Crop Residues Used as Livestock Feed
The feeding value of the crop residues is generally very low. Despite this fact crop residues are one of the important traditional animal feeds. Due to this milk production, growth and fertility performance of livestock, fed particularly in winter months, are low and causing economic losses to livestock owners. There is need to transfer the known technologies to the farmers. It includes: Urea treatment and Molasses-urea block. Further the breeding of cereals that produce better quality straws must be taken care of. Fodder Crops Only 17 percent farmers in Malakand Division cultivate fodder crops on a small area of 17385 ha or 5 percent of cultivated area. Similarly, a negligible farms (3 percent) cultivate on 1673 ha or 0.6 percent of cultivated area. This clearly indicates that the farmers-cum-livestock holders give low priority to production of cultivated fodders. There is need to improve yield/per ha/ annum/ or/season through cultivation of high yielding nutritious fodder crops. There are two growing seasons for fodder or cereal crops in the region namely: Rabbi (winter) season and Kharif (summer) season. In both the seasons different fodder species, but mostly on same lands, are cultivated. During Rabbi season shaftal, berseem, barley, etc. are grown but not all the species on all parts of region are grown. Similarly, during Kharif season maize, sorghum, millet and moth beans are cultivated. Average yield of these traditional fodder crops are very low. It is true for their feed values. Table 3: Average Yield of Different Fodder Species in the mountainous region.
The green fodder, which is produced in small quantities, is only available seasonally for short duration. In the region shaftal fodder is available from January to April. Other Rabbi fodders are available from March to April only. Maize and Moth, Sorghum and Millet fodder from March to October in Malakand Division are available. Similarly other Kharif fodders are available from June to September. This indicates that in 2 winter months (November-December) no green fodders are available. Only in March-April a little more quantity, may be enough, is available as Kharif and Rabbi fodder crops overlap during this period. No other high yielding and nutritious fodders, except one of the cultivator of Medicago sativa in Chitral, are grown in the region. Despite large number of indigenous grasses, legumes and woody species growing in area, these are not cultivated for permanent pastures or meadows. There is great potential either to cultivate fodder trees/shrub species specifically for fodder production or establish cultivated meadows for mowing/harvesting grasses/legumes for hay making as well as grazing aftermath. Muhammad (1989) has listed the following constraints and problems in fodder production:
Pastoral System At Country Level The livestock grazing practices in desert areas of the country including Thal, Cholistan, Kohistan and Therparker are of migratory in nature. Availability of water and forage are driving forces for such nomadic pattern. Droughts, which are cyclic and of moderate to severe intensity, also force the herders to migrate in search of water and feed. The livestock are, most often, moved to irrigated areas in winter or in drought conditions but these areas also lack adequate feed. In early monsoon season the herders return back to their villages and graze their animals from July to August in the desert ranges. In Balochistan province the south-western desert local livestock grazes ranges and the animals move with in valleys. The Afghan nomads do not visit these ranges due to low productivity. However, the central and northern parts of the province have centuries old nomadic grazing patterns as under:
These patterns, in details, have been described by Baig (1977) and FAO (1983) and are reported by Muhammad (1989). Grazing Pattern in the Northern Mountainous Region Leed and Rahim (1997) have identified and described 4 livestock production systems in Malakand Division. Khan and M. Ahmad (2000) have described the transhumance grazing system in same division with socio-economic and socio-cultural conditions of herders as well as their problems and solutions to those problems. Sardar (1997 and 2000) described in detail the indigenous production systems in Kaghan Valley, Hazara Division. These mountainous regions have diversified biophysical and ecological factors. Each zone is being utilized through different grazing systems. The widespread and important grazing systems adapted by the pastoralists are as under: Transhumance Grazing System The alpine/sub-alpine zones have short summer growing season, where vegetation is quite dense but have slow growth and low production due to heavy grazing pressure. These areas are being utilized by the transhumant groups, which otherwise is less accessible to the local communities. The nomads drive their livestock mostly goats and sheep in early spring from foothills towards alpine pastures. They graze their livestock on way up the crop aftermath, scrub forests, pine forests and mixed coniferous forests before they reach alpine pastures. In May they graze sub alpine forests and gradually move upwards with melting of snow and graze areas up to snow line. In autumn they move gradually downwards and graze same areas on way back to foothills ranges. In late autumn and winter seasons they graze foothills, which are ‘double’ grazed and hence over grazed. They occasionally buy the cultivated fodders and feed the sick, old or milking livestock. They pay grazing fee to the owners of alpine/sub-alpine ranges as well as to forest department while grazing in forests. However, in most forests they have concession for free grazing during transit. Semi-Nomadic Grazing The local livestock owners drive their livestock upwards in temperate forests as well as to the alpine pasture for summer grazing. They keep milking and sick animals in permanent settlements. Grazing takes place for up to 3 summer months. They return their livestock to their villages before harvesting summer crops. In autumn, winter and spring seasons they graze the aftermath in cultivated fields, in forests and grassland in vicinity of their houses. Stall-feeding is common in winter season. Hay, crop residues and green fodder are fed to the livestock. Concentrate as supplements are also fed to specific livestock. Most often the farmers purchase crop residue, hay and concentrates from the market to meet the short fall in supply in the region. Sedentary Grazing All the livestock holders of the valley of northern region do not move their livestock to temperate forests or alpine pastures. They keep their livestock in the village all year round. Both grazing and stall feeding is practiced. The livestock graze aftermath in cultivated fields, individually owned grasslands, community lands and forested grazing lands. Most often the stock is herded and grazed for 6-8 hours daily. During winters stall-feeding mostly grass hay and crop residues is done. Cultivated green fodders, where available, are also fed to milking animals. Supplements of concentrates are also given to such animals. Research and Extension Range Improvement for Forage Production The
range research activities have demonstrated the improvement potential
of the mountainous rangelands of the region. These activities and improvement
potential have been discussed in paper 1 (Sardar, 2002). Though there
is improvement potential yet large-scale research and development activities
have not been carried out, so far, by any organization. A developmental
project called “Social Forestry Project Malakand/Dir” was initiated
by the NWFP, Forest Department with technical support of EDC, Islamabad
and DHV Consultants and financial support of Govt. of Pakistan and Kingdom
of the Research on Fodder Crop Production The NWFP, Agricultural University, Peshawar, Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Animal Husbandry In-service Training Institute (AHITI), Peshawar, Agriculture Training Institute, Peshawar are involved in training and education in fodder production. In addition 2 Livestock Research and Development Stations, one each, located in Peshawar and Mansehra are involved in farming research in NWFP. These organizations are responsible for research and teaching in fodder production. The Agricultural University is offering one course on fodder crop production to the B.Sc. Agri. Students and Gomal University also offers one course on animal nutrition related to feed and fodder utilization. The training institutes offer courses to in-service trainees as well as to the farmers regarding fodder production. Unfortunately no research is being conducted by the two research stations on introduction of fodder crops or improvement of the yield of traditionally grown fodder crops despite their mandate for research on fodder and forage production and utilization. This is mostly due to non-availability of trained manpower, research funds and other related facilities. Further no organization in the NWFP is involved in seed production for fodder crops. Extension Approach It is desirable that local knowledge, experiences and techniques be adopted and, where necessary, be improved to sustain an ecologically viable and socially acceptable systems. It is evident from the previous paragraphs that the traditional activities are being continued and no improved technology package, either for forage production from rangelands or fodder production from cultivated lands, has been introduced in the region. It is imperative that practicable and result-oriented and highly productive technologies be introduced. It is equally important that the knowledge or technology is passed on to the community members through extension-i.e. on farm education, with feed back to solve the issues for making accurate and sound decisions. The community involvement in natural resource management is must. The local community organization is must for effective participation. There is need to make changes in attitudes and to get support for such changes. Organization of livestock herders and farmers must also be based on intimate knowledge of local conditions at village level assessment. This assessment must seek to know what benefits will accrue to the poor, what interest conflicts exist in the community and what type of knowledge is available relevant to organization. Further rules and regulations, by which the organization will be govern, must also be framed. This means that active community participation is prerequisite for improvement in forage resources and their sustainability. Reference Anon. (1990). Census of Agriculture: Province Report Vol.II Part-1 NWFP Including Frontier Regions and Agencies. GOP. Economic Affairs and Statistics Division,Agri. Census Organization. Hatim, Dr. Mir, Dr. M. Akmal, Dr. G. Habib and Dr. Mohsin Siddiqui (2001). Status Paper on Establishment of Fodder and Forage Discipline. NWFP Agri. University,Peshawar. Khan, Sanaullah and M. Ahmad (2000). High Altitude Pastoral Systems in Malakand.
Division (NWFP)- Leede, Bartken De and
Inamur Rehman (1977).
Range Land Utilization in Malakand Division: Under Use or Over Use.
ERP Report 2-3, Saidu Sharif, NWFP, Muhammad, Dr. Noor (1989). Range Land
Management in Pakistan ICIMOD Senior Fellowship series No.1 ICIMOD,
Kathmandu, Sajjad, Tahir (2000). Production Potentials and Nutritive Values of Winter Season Fodder on Irrigated Farms: An Approach to Integration of Pastures and Farm Lands. Fourth Workshop Proceedings. PP. 187-194. Sardar, Dr. M. Rafique (1997). Indigenous Production and Utilization Systems in the High Altitude
Alpine Pasture, Saif-ul-Maluk (NWFP), Sardar, Dr. M. Rafique (1999). Agro-Pastoral Production Systems of High Altitude Pastures, Kaghan Valley, NWFP,
Sardar, Dr. M. Rafique (2001). Grazing Land/Fodder Reserves in Abbottabad District: Abbottabad Conservation,Strategy (ACS) Sector Paper. IUCN-SPCS Support Unit, Peshawar. Sardar, Dr. M. Rafique (2002). The Current Use of Forage
Resources of the Northern Mountainous Region of NWFP, Shah, Dr. B.H. and Dr. S.M. Rafique (Editors) (1989). Regional Seminar on Problems Affecting Range and Pasture Land Development in Himalayan Region. Proceedings of Regional Seminar under RAS/9/121, FAO Regional Project, held at the PFI, Peshawar, Nov. 19-26, 1989. |
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