Working Group for Temperate Asia
[Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan]

Established in 1995, this group covers a wide ecological zone where animal husbandry is important in the participating countries. As follow up to RAS/79/121 - Himalayan Pasture and Fodder Research Network.

In the Himalayan region livestock production systems in the semi-arid and alpine areas are not independent of the lower moister areas. A mechanism has been firmly established after the first meeting in February 1995 which will facilitate inter-country cooperation between the Governmental institutions dealing with grassland/livestock production. The emphasis of the group's work will be on transferring appropriate technologies to improve the overall productivity of these fragile ecosystems in a sustainable way. 

 The types of activity engaged in include: 

• demonstration of pasture production and use, with studies of indigenous production systems, in sub-alpine zones (at different elevations above 1500 m);
• demonstration and training on irrigated conserved fodder;
• integration of fodder and pasture into existing farming systems;
• fodder breeding for cold tolerance; 
• study of potential areas for pasture seed production;
• haymaking from natural herbage in cold semi-arid areas;
• improved grazing management.

Projects and Publications

• An FAO TCP project TCP/NEP/2901 "Capacity Building for Fodder Oat Technology in Nepal" has been implemented in Nepal through NARC with Dinesh Periyar as National Project Coordinator. A final workshop was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 8 - 11 March, 2005 with the theme "Fodder Oats, Fodder Technology Packages and Small Farm Income Generation". With the participation of some scientists from Bhutan and India, this was held in conjunction with the Sixth Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group Meeting and specifically the Fodder Oats Network. Proceedings are now available.
  Some fodder oat work has also been initiated in Tibet under project TCP/CPR/2907 "Fodder production and double cropping in Tibet" and project TCP/CPR/2902 in the Qinghai province.

• Some of the studies of transhumant systems undertaken by the Working Group have been published in late 2003 in a book intitled "Transhumant Grazing Systems in Temperate Asia".

• The fifth meeting of the Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group was held in Bhutan, 29 April - 4 May, 2002 (to coincide with The International Year of Mountains). The excellent programme included various field visits. Proceedings are now available. Some papers on Fodder Oats from the Bhutan meeting are now available in the Electronic Library. For full details see Fodder oats: a world overview.

• Dr. Bimal Misri has prepared a paper on "Variability in the alfalfa of Ladakh" following a germplasm collection trip sponsored by FAO. Dr. Sindhu Sareen, who is working on White Clover at the IGFARI Centre at Palampur has written a paper on Variability in white clover from the Indian Himalaya

• A manuscript entitled "Fodder Success Story - Improved Fodder Crop Production in the Northern Areas of Pakistan" has been prepared by Dr. Dost Muhammad and is now available in the AGPC Integrated Crop Management Series.
• Reports of work undertaken in Xinjiang, China and North Vietnam by Dr. Dost Muhammad on "forage crops for winter fodder" are now available.

• Proceedings of the Workshop on Fodder Oats, Fodder Technology Packages and Small Farm Income Generation , Kathmandu, Nepal 8-11 March, 2005, 197 pp. (also the sixth meeting of the Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group)

• "Sustainable mountain development - Agro-pastoral systems and fodder crops in the Himalayan region". Proceedings of the fifth meeting of the Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group, 30th April-4th May, 2002, Wangdue, Bhutan, 191 pp.

• "Appropriate technology for sustainable development of pasture and rangeland production systems in the Himalayan region" Proceedings of the fourth meeting of the Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group, 7-11 June, 2000, Peshawar, Pakistan. 217 pp.

• "Sustainable Himalayan pasture and fodder production system; present problems and prospects" Proceedings of the third meeting of the Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Working Group, 9-13 March, 1998, Pokhara, Nepal. 151 pp.

• Workshop Proceedings of the second meeting of the Sub-Regional Working Group on Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder, 9-14 March, 1996, Dehra Dun, India, 85 pp.
• Temperate Asia Pasture and Fodder Sub-Regional Working Group, Workshop Proceedings of the first meeting, 26 February-2 March, 1995, Khathmandu, Nepal, 46 pp.

Country Coordinators:

Bhutan:

Mr. Tsering Gyaltsen
Fodder Research Officer
PNR Research Station REID/MOA
Sarbithang, Thimpu, Bhutan

Phone: 00975-02-22805
Fax: 00975-2-25242/22395 
e-mail: <tgyaltsenffs@hotmail.com>

India:

Dr. Bimal Misri
Principal Scientist and Head
Regional Research Centre, IGFRI (Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute)
CSK HPKV Campus, Palampur - 176062, HP, India
Phone:00 91-1894-33676, 33363
Fax: 0091-1894-33063
e-mail: <bimalmisri@sancharnet.in>

Nepal:

Mr. Dinesh Pariyar
Chief
Pasture and Fodder Research Division
NARC, Khumaltar, Nepal

Phone: 00977-1-523038
Fax: 00977-1-521197
e-mail: < Khm@pfrd.wlink.com.np

Pakistan:

Dr. Mohammad Rafique Sardar
Director, Forest Education Division
Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan

Phone: 0092-521-41220
Fax: 0092-521-844851
e-mail: <smrafiquedr@yahoo.com>