LIVESTOCK BASED ECONOMY IN RAJASTHAN
Rajasthan state is blessed with productive livestock which has been an important component of the life support system since ages. The well known cattle breeds like Rathi, Tharparkar, Nagori, Kankraj and Mewati as well as sturdy goat breeds like Sirohi, Marwari and Parbatsari have originated from this state. Due to drought tolerant breeds, Rajasthan farmers find livestock production to be an excellent insurance cover, when agricultural crops fail under drought conditions.
Village common land or Gochar is common property resource(s) and is central focus point of the livelihood which contributes in agriculture production, livestock management, non-farm activities and rural industries etc.
Since feudal days, each village had a few hectares of common pasture land called "Gochar" for grazing of village livestock. Management of this pasture was under the "Thikanedar" (Caretaker), who was responsible for the maintenance of fodder and fuel trees and collection of levy from farmers who let their animals for grazing. The amount was used for maintenance and development of grazing lands. The system was most effective and efficient as it was under a single command. The livestock had enough forage for grazing and hence they were healthy and productive.
Village common lands contribution to fodder, income, employment opportunities, resource conservation and improvement in micro-climate and environment etc. is appreciable. Below poverty line population is dependent on the CPR(s). 71% fuel and 84% fuel and 84% grazing is done on village common in Rajasthan.
With gradual increase in livestock population and shift in control from the Thikanedar to Gram Panchayat, the maintenance of these pastures were ignored. This resulted in denudation and significant reduction in productivity. As a result these pastures instead of contributing to the fodder production are accelerating soil erosion, water run off, pests and diseases in the adjoining farms. Hence development of community pastures will not only ensure adequate supply to local livestock but also promote soil and water conservation and improve agricultural production and eco-system.
1. BAIF - A Voluntary organisation committed to Rural Development
BAIF Development Research Foundation is a voluntary organisation (VO) involved in rural development and environmental protection for over three decades, The major activities of BAIF are promotion of cattle development, agro-forestry, tree based farming systems and watershed management etc., with an aim to provide remunerative employment to rural people through sustainable use of degraded natural resources such as land, livestock, vegetation and water. Extension training and applied research are the integral parts of BAIF's development activities in Rajasthan are -
Since 1980, BAIF is involved in cattle breed development in 13 districts, with major concentration of work in south Rajasthan where a majority of the cattle is non-descript. The farmers have taken keen interest in Cattle development in Bhilwara where BAIF initiated its work in Rajasthan. BAIF is operating 21 Cattle Development Centres with the support of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). Each centre extends breeding and advisory service to farmers in 15 km radius area and covers about 15 to 20 villages and 1000 families owning 2000 breedable cattle population. A well trained, Block Programme Officer, who has established good contact with the villagers breeds cows and buffaloes owned by farmers at their doorsteps. Presently over 15,000 villagers own crossbred cows which are born under this programme and are producing on an average 8 to 10 lt. milk per day with lactation yield ranging from 2400 to 3500 lit., benefiting about 30,000 families. The dedicated and result oriented work by BAIF staff has helped in establishing good rapport with the farmers.
Since 1991, BAIF has been implementing a pilot project on Sirohi goat development in selected villages of Asind and Mandal Talukas of Bhilwara district. The activities include awareness and training on goat improvement, breeding buck distribution, health support, milk recording and kid weight measurement, silvipasture development on private lands owned by small farmers and community westelands. While working with local farmers, it was felt that there is a need to develop community pasture lands to increase the productivity of the livestock. As this was a new activity, BAIF involved the villagers to generate ideas and modus operandi for developing these denuded pasture lands. Based on interactions and local interests, the following villages were selected for development of silvipasture in 1991-92.
S.No. Village Block Area
1 Jodhaka kheda Asind 10 hectares
2 Mandal Mandal 40 hectares
3 Kavlas Asind 50 hectares
Swiss Development Cortporation (SDC) / INTERCOOPERATION came forward to finance this project . People's participation was excellent at Jodha ka kheda and Kavlas. At Mandal, although the initial response was good the progress was slow due to groupism among the villagers. Presently the pastures at Jodha ka kheda and Kavlas are managed by the village community with the income generated from the pasture itself.
At Jodha ka kheda, protection was done by constructing a stone wall and 8000 saplings of Acacia nilotica (babul), Acacia leucophloea (Orinja), Zizyphus numularia (Bordi), and Azadirachta indica (Neem) were planted. In between the rows grasses like Cenchrus cilaris and Stylosanthes sp. were sown. At Kavlas village in Asind tehsil, silvipasture has been undertaken on wastelands and protection is done by trench-cum-mound and live fencing with Black thor . 8000 saplings comprising of Acacia, Prosopis, Zizyphus, Neem and Leucaena have been established and grasses like Dhaman and S.hemata have been sown in between rows. At Mandal Tehsil, silvipasture work has been done on 22 ha. wastrelands with trench-cum-mound protection. The plantation includes 17000 plants of Babul, Orinja, Bordi, Neem and Subabul. Fodder grasses like Dhaman and hamata have also been sown.
In the beginning, information and motivation needs of the farmers were met through exposure visits, training and awareness campaigns, Selection of tree and herbaceous species were also made by the farmers based on their traditional knowledge. To meet the demands of large ruminants, farmers suggested sowing of Cenchrus setigirus (Dhaman) and Stylosanthus hemata (Stylo). Acacia nilotica (Babul), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Prosopis cineraria (Khejri) etc. were planted at wider distance in the pasture. The local farmers carried out the development work like soil and water conservation, gully plugging, bunding, planting of saplings and their protection. At the end of third year, remarkable survival of saplings and establishment of grasses were noticeable. The success was due to active participation and involvement of user group in maintaining the silvipasture with technical assistance from BAIF.
At Kavlas, conservation of community pasture was launched in the year 1991-92 with the formation of village level committee of 21 member which included the village Sarpanch as the Chairman and BAIF’s local officer as a Member. Initially, the enthusiasm was confined only to a few members and others did not participate seriously. The committee decided to fence 10 ha. In the first year by creating a trench cum mound around the plot. A live fence was developed by planting Euphorbia branches as a close spacing on the mound. Water gullies were blocked by erecting check bunds and stone gardenias at closer intervals. The pasture was deviled into smaller plots by creating contour bunds. Sowing of forage seeds such as Cenchrus setigirus (Dhaman grass) and Stylosanthus hemata (Stylo) was carried out before the onset of rain, after stirring the soil with the first few showers, tender grasses emerged which attracted the livestock. To prevent stray grazing, the committee which met once a month (on every ‘Amavasya’ as it is easily remembered even by the illiterate). Decided to recover a fine of Rs.51 stray grazing by cattle and buffaloes and Rs.21 for every goat or sheep. As these decisions affected everybody, many members expressed their desire to participant in the process of decision making. Hence the committee was reconstituted with two members from each caste and a member of BAIF.
For implementation, Village management Commmittee (VMC) were formed by nominating the representatives from various socio-economic segments of the community. Initially, the committee allowed individual farmers to harvest grass with 50% sharing with village management committee. VMC auctions this share in the village itself. Similarly seeds of grasses and legume were also harvested and sold as Sale proceeded and use by committee to maintain the "Gochar' and undertook other development works in the village. After three years, the committee has allowed restricted grazing, after cutting of grass. Thus the barren lands of yesteryears have been converted into productive community assets, for the people and managed by the people. With regards to economical and environmental aspects, it is an investment with a short payback period. Within 5-6 years, all investments were paid back.
This experience of silvipasture development on wastelands and establishing a raport with villagers to ensure their active participation to manage the village resources in better way has been a learning process for BAIF in Bhilwara district. Now we are confident to undertake similar activities in other areas as well. Enclosed reports of Kavlas for the year 1998-99, 1999-2000.
Village level committee’s platform will be useful for the formation of self help group(s) SHG(s) with special emphasis to women’s group and landless labours. |
