Livestock in Mixed Farming Systems of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas

Pradeep Man Tulachan
Arun Neupane

Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations International Centre
for Integrated Mountain Development

Table of Contents

Introduction

Terms of Reference/Areas of Enquiry

Study Areas and Methodology

Livestock Composition in the Himalayan Mountain

Population Growth and Land Fragmentation

Trends in Livestock Population and Herd Composition

Land Fragmentation and Changes in Livestock Composition

The Increase in Smallholder Dairies in Mountain Areas

Importance of Livestock in the Farm Household Economy

Increasing Trend of Smallholder Dairy Farming

SmallHolder Dairy Dynamics in the Middle Hills of Nepal

Development of Smallholder Dairies in the Indian Himalayas

Increase in Improved Animal Breed

Relationship between the Distribution of Cross-bred Cattle and Veterinary Services in HP

Implications on the Natural Resource Base and the Environment

Sustainable Management of Livestock, Feed Resources and Soil Fertility

Inter- relationship between Livestock, Soil and Plants

Fertility Maintenance Measures

Soil Fertility Decline and Livestock Management Practices

Declining Sources of Fodder and Farmers' Responses

Feed Resources from Private Land and Implications for CPRs

Perceptions of the Role of Community Forestry

Gender and Livestock

Gender Division of Work

Gender Equity and Decision-making

Changing Gender Roles

Gender Roles in Soil Management

Livestock Sector Development Experiences

Animal Breed Improvement

Animal Feed Improvement

Lessons from Livestock Sector Development and Past Policies

Framework for Livestock Sector Development in the Himalayas

Strategies for Sustainable Management of Livestock in Mixed-Crop Livestock Farming Systems

Improvement in the Feed Resource Base

Improvement in Animal Productivity

Improvement in Livestock Support Services

Reassess the Price Policy for Milk

Promotion of Manufactured Livestock Feed

Fostering Credit and Savings' Institutions / Minimisation of the Risk in Livestock Raising

Promotion of Appropriate Technologies for Inaccessible Areas

Promotion of Diversification through Value-adding to Increase Returns

Integration of Gender Concerns

Promotion of Micro-Livestock for Marginal and Disadvantaged Farmers

Improvement of Soil Fertility through Better Management of Livestock and Forage Crops

References
Annexes
Abstract
Preface
Acknowledgements
Acronyms

Copyright © 1999

FAO, Rome International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
All rights reserved

ISBN 92 9115 071 1

Published by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal

Editorial Team Greta Mary Rana (Senior Editor) Rosemary Thapa (Consultant Editor) Sushil Man Joshi (Technical Support and Layout) Asha K. Thaku (Cartography and Design)

Cover Plates Goats grazing on a high mountain pasture, Indian
Himalayas (Background) - Authors
Lady on a camel in a high mountain valley, Indian Himalayas - Authors
Baby sleeping in a fur rug, Indian Himalayas - Authors
Storage of FYM in the UP Hills, Indian Himalayas - Authors
Use of draught animals in the hills of Nepal - Authors
Feeding cattle and storage of paddy straw in the hills of Nepal - Authors
Cabbage field in the hills, Nepal - Authors

The views and interpretations in this paper are those of the author(s). They are not attributable to the FAO, Rome, or the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and do not imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.