| Section 1 Introduction Chapter 1 Fodder Production and Double cropping Ian Lane 1.1. Background |
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In 2000, the Tibet Autonomous Region’s total farmland was about 230,000 hectares. The main crops are barley, wheat, pea, broad bean, potato, rape and beet. Some small areas are dedicated to faba bean, phaseolus bean, corn, peanut, Chinese cabbage, turnip, buckwheat, spinach, garlic, rice, and tobacco. In 2000, the total cereal production was about 960,000 tons (60 per cent barley and 30 percent wheat). Approximately 68 percent of the cultivated land is irrigated. Livestock are as important as crop production (46 % of total agriculture
gross value). The variety of livestock in Counties in the lower and middle reaches of the Yalong Tsangpo River
and the middle reaches of the Lhasa River (Dazi, Qushui, Duilong, Gongka,
Naidong, Zhanang and Qiongjie) have a relatively high population density
compared to crop and range lands in other parts of The Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region (GoTAR) has followed national guidelines for regional sufficiency in grain production. All land capable of growing cereals has been in a continuous cereal rotation, and fodder production was restricted to poor quality land. Winter wheat and barley varieties were introduced in the 1960s, and have been adopted by farmers in the valleys below 3650m for the past 25 years. Only in 2005, in line with national policies on developing income generation by farmers, has GoTAR adopted policies that allow farmers in general to diversify into commercial livestock production supported by fodder production on good quality irrigated land. Lack of quality fodder, especially during winter, is a major limiting factor in improving livestock production in the lower and middle reaches of the Yalong Tsangpo River and the middle reaches of the Lhasa River. During winter, there are few areas where animals can graze. A survey of available livestock feed in Gongka and Linzhou indicated that more than 70 percent of the available non-mountain feed was straw and stover of low quality, especially in terms of protein, for stock to meet their dietary needs. This reliance by farmers on poor quality crop residues results in many animals being undernourished and weak by the spring. The typical cycle has been to fatten cattle in summer in an attempt to carry them through the winter and spring period when little feed is available. In order to sustain food grain production while increasing fodder production in an area where the arable land is limited, there is urgent need to increase the land utilization rate by introducing double cropping systems. Winter barley and winter wheat are sown in early October and mature in the following July and August respectively. After the cereal harvest in areas below 3650m altitude there is a potential growing period of 2 - 3 months. This period is currently underutilized, and can be sown to second crops for fodder in a double cropping system. These second crops can be purely for fodder, such as forage legumes. Alternatively they can produce both a product for the market and a good quality fodder for farm animals, such as turnips. Adjusting cropping systems to make full use of the growing season is low cost and allows farmers to increase their income with relatively modest inputs. 1.2. Factors that result in successful adoption of new technology A recent review of the factors that have resulted in successful adoption of forage legumes in tropical countries lists the following in declining importance:
In some circumstances changes in government regulation are also required for a major change in agriculture. The needs of farmers, beside profits, include food security, greater personal convenience, control of risk, affordability of adoption and intellectual satisfaction. Farmers need access to information in relation to the complexity of the development, and ongoing supply of technological inputs. Within agricultural development, fodder production is unique in that it generally has no direct marketable output itself, although markets for fodder can be developed. Farmers generally only grow a pure fodder crop in response to development in livestock production that generates sufficient income to justify the investment in land, labour and capital. An example is a dairy development project, which may be focussed on a few villages.
However, governments also have a responsibility to develop sustainable livelihoods for as many farmers as possible through county and township programmes. Here, farmers can benefit through improved nutrition of all their livestock, even though such benefits are seen indirectly through better family health and more sustainable farming systems. These farmers readily adopt dual purpose crops as second crops, which provide a market return as well as supplementary fodder. They can also adopt second crops grown purely for fodder provided the factors listed above are in place. 1.3. Opportunities to develop fodder production and double cropping Agricultural livelihoods in central The values in Table 1.1 need to be revised with actual data recorded from farmers' fields and households. However with 1 ha (15 mu) of irrigated cropland, it is estimated that a typical family growing mainly Feimai winter wheat (WW) and Dongqing#1 winter barley (WB) will produce 3.5 tons cereal grains and 9 tons of fodder (mainly straws + weeds + grazing of croplands and limited hill grazing). Half the fodder is used for feeding, with an actual stocking rate estimated from utilised TDN and CP of 12 Sheep Equivalent Units.
1.4. Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Constraints The current single cropping system practised in the lower valleys of
central The SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Constraints) analysis shows how activities in crop production, fodder production and livestock keeping and the wider environment are closely linked. The main "Actions Required" addressed by this training manual include: Cereal breeding and Crop agronomy
Tillage methods
Fodder production, Conservation and Feeding
Progress in farming systems in lower valleys of central Table 1.2. Progress in Farming Systems in central
It is therefore estimated that a typical family will produce 4.3 tons cereal grains and 11.5 tons DM of fodder. Of this fodder, 4.2 tons are cultivated fodder crops and other green fodders, while the rest are crop residues. 72% of the total fodder produced is used as feed. Including the grain fed the actual stocking rate has been doubled to 26 Sheep Equivalent Units - but this is derived from fodders of much higher nutritive value which can support higher levels of animal production. The remaining straw available as fuel is slightly reduced from 3.1 to 2.4 ton. However, the dung collected at the homestead is estimated to increase from 1.5 to 2.8 ton DM. It will be essential to return as much of this dung to the field as possible as manure in order to maintain soil fertility, soil structure and crop yields on a sustainable basis. The rainfall in the period July to September is nearly 70% of the annual
total and the first frost in this region starts usually around 15 October.
Temperature and rainfall conditions in Gongka, Zhanang, Zedang, Nimu,
and Qushui are slightly more favourable than in the Lhasa area. However,
the temperature in the Lhasa area has increased slightly over the last
thirty years and it may be possible to grow winter barley in some areas
where previously this was not possible. Also, newly developed varieties
of winter barley are more resistant to freezing temperatures and can
survive the winter period. These climate changes and technological innovations
provide an opportunity for Initial trials in the region have shown that late maturing winter wheat usually yields about 4-6 ton/ha. In these trials early maturing winter wheat (maturing in July) yielded more than 4.5 tons/ha, and in some cases it reached about 5 tons/ha. When winter wheat matures before the rainy season, the grain quality is much better than the late maturing one. Introduction of high-yielding good grain quality winter wheat could be an innovative approach to pursue improved marketability of wheat and increased income generation from wheat cultivation. In addition, early maturing winter wheat increases the growing window for the following second crop of fodder. This ensures the benefits of maintained wheat production, improved feed quality, and increased fodder production for winter. Winter barley was introduced to this area in the 1980s and many farmers have been growing winter barley. The average yield of winter barley is usually 10-15% higher than that of spring barley (3.5 ton/ha on average). The total profit from cultivating winter barley, if followed by a fodder crop, could be double that of a single crop of spring barley. As both rainfall and water are available for irrigation and the temperature is favourable, high yields of fodder crops can be achieved provided the fodder crop is protected from free livestock grazing. These crops include nitrogen-fixing legumes such as Jiashewandou (Japanese vetch), peas, and beans; fodder oats or triticale with accompanying legume crops; and other crops such as turnips and fodder-beet. According to a survey in Nima and Qushui County, the dry-matter of one hectare of turnip can feed 30 cattle. After the turnip root is dried, ground into powder and fed to the milking cow, milk production increased by 20%. Also, one hectare of turnip root can feed about 22-30 pigs with body weight of about 200 kg. Currently, in the lower and middle reaches of the Lhasa River alone, there are more than 10,000 ha cultivated for winter crops. If 3,000 ha were converted to double crop farming, the total fodder dry matter production could be 15,000 tons on the basis of 5 ton/ha yield, which can feed around 9000 head of beef cattle. An experiment in test plots showed that if Jianshewandou is grown after winter barley, fresh-matter production may reach 20-40 tons/ha which could support 7 sheep equivalent animal units. The expansion of livestock production and the numbers of entrepreneurs
involved in livestock raising in the lower and middle reaches of the
Yalong Tsangpo River is increasing in response to local government activities,
but is still limited by the amount of good quality feed available over
the winter and spring period. The double-cropping system is a potential
solution that still requires technical assistance and advice, and new
cultivars and crop varieties, to be able to demonstrate it to farmers.
New fodder crops and new cultivars/varieties of traditional fodder crops
and of winter barley and wheat are needed, as well as assistance for
improving the management of the more complex cropping systems. With
the TCP assistance and training it is expected that double-cropping
systems based on winter barley and winter wheat will be the means to
finding the solution to the problem of lack of winter feed for livestock
as well as to increasing feed and food production per unit of land.
As mentioned previously, the initial target for double cropping area
is of 3,000 ha which would potentially benefit 9000 farm families. These
farmers are considered some of the poorest in Expected benefits include:
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Annex 1.1.1. Models for Crop-dominated farming
systems <3650m altitude in central region of |
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| Annex 1.1.2. Models for Crop-dominated farming
systems <3650m altitude in central region of |
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Annex 1.2. SWOC analysis for the current single cropping system in the lower valleys of Central Tibet |
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