Ecologically and socially sustainablelivestock development in marginal

areas

Ilse Köhler-Rollefson

23 rd International Grasslands Conference, Delhi

Ecologically and socially sustainablelivestock development in marginal

areas

Ilse Köhler-Rollefson

23 rd International Grasslands Conference, Delhi

people are poor,the land is overgrazed and degraded….the livestock inefficient….the system unproductive….

"We need to show them how to improve"

Marginal areas = problem areas

people are poor,the land is overgrazed and degraded….the livestock inefficient….the system unproductive….

"We need to show them how to improve"

people are poor,the land is overgrazedthe livestock inefficientthe system unproductive

"We need to show them how to improve"

Marginal areas = problem areas

people are poor,the land is overgrazedthe livestock inefficientthe system unproductive

"We need to show them how to improve"

Purpose of this paper:

to reevaluate these assumptions and show thatIndia's pastoralists are

• amazingly efficient food producers• do not degrade and instead enhance the land• are usually not poor

to reevaluate these assumptions and show thatIndia's pastoralists are

• amazingly efficient food producers• do not degrade and instead enhance the land• are usually not poor

India‘s Pastoralists

Inefficient?

India is the world's largest exporter of sheepand goat meat – 23 MT valued at almost 7000million Indian Rupees in 2013.

Feeding UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, andOman…..

India is the world's largest exporter of sheepand goat meat – 23 MT valued at almost 7000million Indian Rupees in 2013.

Feeding UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, andOman…..

India's livestock lagging behind?

• World‘s largest milk producer• World‘s largest exporter of buffalo meat

feeding Southeast Asia and Arab countries

Most of it produced in "traditional" systemswith hardly any resource inputs, just byharvesting naturally available biomass.

• World‘s largest milk producer• World‘s largest exporter of buffalo meat

feeding Southeast Asia and Arab countries

Most of it produced in "traditional" systemswith hardly any resource inputs, just byharvesting naturally available biomass.

HUMAN-EDIBLEPROTEIN BALANCE IN

THE LIVESTOCKPRODUCTION OF

SELECTED COUNTRIES(FAO data)

EDIBLE PROTEINOUTPUT/INPUT

EDIBLEPROTEIN

OUTPUT-INPUTTONNES

Balance

AV.2005-2007 AV.2005-2007SaudiArabia 0.19 -659 588

Proteindestroying

USA 0.53 -7 650 830

Proteindestroying

Germany 0.62 -1 183 290

Proteindestroying

Proteindestroying

HUMAN-EDIBLEPROTEIN BALANCE IN

THE LIVESTOCKPRODUCTION OF

SELECTED COUNTRIES(FAO data)

China 0.95 -665 276

Proteindestroying

Netherlands 1.02 18 070 ~evenBrazil 1.17 550 402 ~evenNepal 1.88 40 803 ~evenIndia 4.30 3 379 440 Protein creating

Sudan 8.75 340 895Protein creating

NewZealand 10.06 638 015 Protein creatingMongolia 14.60 35 858 Protein creating

Ethiopia 16.95 141 395Protein creating

Kenya 21.16 202 803 Protein creating

"Traditional" Livestock Systems

People

Depend on• Local/indigenous

breedsgrazing on

• "natural" biodiversevegetation and cropaftermath

BreedsVegetation

Depend on• Local/indigenous

breedsgrazing on

• "natural" biodiversevegetation and cropaftermath

Locally adapted breeds are a crucial component

Independent of external inputs (feed, vet. medicine) Drought resistant and easy to manage Can walk and walk, search out own forage

Pastoralists are astutebreeders,

continuouslyexperimenting for the

most suitablegenotype. This Raika

paid 20,000 Rs for thisram (“Baradi”) as a

lamb

Pastoralists are astutebreeders,

continuouslyexperimenting for the

most suitablegenotype. This Raika

paid 20,000 Rs for thisram (“Baradi”) as a

lamb

Traditional production systems

• Optimally convert local feedresources into food and energy –are independent of external feedand fodder inputs.

• There is a balance betweenlivestock numbers and availableresources.

• Positive effect on biodiversity andnot interfering withwildlife

• Minimal external energy required(if any)

• Optimally convert local feedresources into food and energy –are independent of external feedand fodder inputs.

• There is a balance betweenlivestock numbers and availableresources.

• Positive effect on biodiversity andnot interfering withwildlife

• Minimal external energy required(if any)

Degrading the land?

Nutrient recycling

Access to remote areas food security

Migratory shepherds from Godwararea (Desuri and Bali Tehsils of Pali

District

Dera=herding groupcomposed of 6-20 dolri

DolriPatell

Poor?Income and meat output of sample

area• Min. 40 deras with an average of 3500 ewes= ca.140,000 ewes.

• These produce ca. 30,000 saleable male lambs@ Rs.2500= Rs. 75,000,000,

• 11kg liveweight for a 2-3 months old lamb= 330,000kg live weight

• With a dressing percentage of around 50%, thiswould mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs

• All this meat would have been produced withoutany use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer,tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.).

• Min. 40 deras with an average of 3500 ewes= ca.140,000 ewes.

• These produce ca. 30,000 saleable male lambs@ Rs.2500= Rs. 75,000,000,

• 11kg liveweight for a 2-3 months old lamb= 330,000kg live weight

• With a dressing percentage of around 50%, thiswould mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs

• All this meat would have been produced withoutany use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer,tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.).

Besides meat and dung, milk is also an importantproduct for household consumption and sale (duringpart of the year)

Wild Animal Diversity• Grazing livestock keeps

open nesting habitats ofbirds

• Predator species (wolves,hyenas, leopards, lions)depend on livestock asprey and essential part oftheir diet

(Example Gir Forest in India)• Chilikula buffalo swimming

in lake essential for fishpopulation

• Grazing livestock keepsopen nesting habitats ofbirds

• Predator species (wolves,hyenas, leopards, lions)depend on livestock asprey and essential part oftheir diet

(Example Gir Forest in India)• Chilikula buffalo swimming

in lake essential for fishpopulation

Biological diversity: In Rajasthan camels and goats convert 36different fodder species into milk, meat, manure and fibre

Utilise a wide variety of scattered andseasonally variable tree and grass vegetation

Food products with health benefits

•

The prevailing livestock developentapproach

• Encourages livestock keepers/farmers toswitch to more “productive breeds” and toadopt “modern technologies”.

• Promotes the concept that higher yieldinganimals are automatically more profitable.

• Encourages livestock keepers/farmers toswitch to more “productive breeds” and toadopt “modern technologies”.

• Promotes the concept that higher yieldinganimals are automatically more profitable.

“Modern livestockproduction”

From all perspectives – local livelihoods, livestock production,as well as continued soil fertility – it is adamant and urgentthat the migratory pastoralists are not squeezed out and thatsufficient space for them is retained in the crop cycle!This system is not backward, but ecological and, in that sense,modern.

Ecologically and sustainable livestockdevelopment in marginal areas

Would• Recognize and acknowledge the value of

the "traditional" systems• Facilitate and support mobility• Protect and provide services to pastoralists• Ensure space and protect the customary

rights of pastoralists

Would• Recognize and acknowledge the value of

the "traditional" systems• Facilitate and support mobility• Protect and provide services to pastoralists• Ensure space and protect the customary

rights of pastoralists

• How do we change perceptions among policymakers, bureaucrats and even livestock keepersthat local breeds and associated traditionalknowledge are valuable assets?

• How do we counter threats such as shrinkinggrazing lands, disintegration of traditionalinstitutions and knowledge, lack of respect byoutsiders?

• How do we change perceptions among policymakers, bureaucrats and even livestock keepersthat local breeds and associated traditionalknowledge are valuable assets?

• How do we counter threats such as shrinkinggrazing lands, disintegration of traditionalinstitutions and knowledge, lack of respect byoutsiders?

Article 8j of UN Convention onBiological Diversity

• „Contracting parties shall…subject tonational legislation, respect, preserve andmaintain knowledge innovations andpractices of indigenous and localcommunities embodying traditionallifestyles relevant for the conservation andsustainable use of biological diversity…..“

.

• „Contracting parties shall…subject tonational legislation, respect, preserve andmaintain knowledge innovations andpractices of indigenous and localcommunities embodying traditionallifestyles relevant for the conservation andsustainable use of biological diversity…..“

.

Article 10: Contracting parties shall..

• c. Protect and encourage customary use of biologicalresources in accordance with traditional cultural practicesthat are compatible with conservation and sustainable userequirements

• d. Support local populations to develop and implementremedial action in degraded areas where biologicaldiversity has been reduced

• c. Protect and encourage customary use of biologicalresources in accordance with traditional cultural practicesthat are compatible with conservation and sustainable userequirements

• d. Support local populations to develop and implementremedial action in degraded areas where biologicaldiversity has been reduced

A new tool: Biocultural Community Protocols

• Backed by the Nagoya Protocolof the UN-Convention onBiological Diversity

• Tool for claiming status as„indigenous or localcommunity….“

• Biocultural Protocols documentthe role of a community inconserving animal geneticresources and eco-systems,contribute to visibility andawareness

• Backed by the Nagoya Protocolof the UN-Convention onBiological Diversity

• Tool for claiming status as„indigenous or localcommunity….“

• Biocultural Protocols documentthe role of a community inconserving animal geneticresources and eco-systems,contribute to visibility andawareness

Biocultural Protocols

• are a tool for documenting bio-assets, productionsystems, products.

• give a voice to pastoralists and other small-scalelivestock keepers.

• raise awareness about culture and tradition to addresschallenges, such as cross breeding and productinnovations

• Invoke rights (grazing, breeding)• Generate information exchange and communication

with other stakeholders

• are a tool for documenting bio-assets, productionsystems, products.

• give a voice to pastoralists and other small-scalelivestock keepers.

• raise awareness about culture and tradition to addresschallenges, such as cross breeding and productinnovations

• Invoke rights (grazing, breeding)• Generate information exchange and communication

with other stakeholders

Raika of Rajasthan (India)

Banni Maldhari of Gujarat (India)

Bargur Hill Cattle Breeders (Lingayat) ofTamil Nadu (India)

Jaisalmer Camel Breeders and manyothers....

Possible benefits and incentives forlivestock keepers

• Monetary rewards at national level throughpayments for environmental services, such ascarbon sequestration and biodiversityconservation.

• Provision of an enabling environment thatsupports them to continue their livelihood andbreed conservation activities (livestockkeepers rights, grazing rights, services).

• Support for developing a special label forlivestock products from bio-diversity basedproduction systems (“Ark of Bio-diversity”)

• Monetary rewards at national level throughpayments for environmental services, such ascarbon sequestration and biodiversityconservation.

• Provision of an enabling environment thatsupports them to continue their livelihood andbreed conservation activities (livestockkeepers rights, grazing rights, services).

• Support for developing a special label forlivestock products from bio-diversity basedproduction systems (“Ark of Bio-diversity”)

Conclusion

Livestock mantra is "more with less"Sustainable intensification

Pastoralists produce "everything withnothing"

Extensification !

Livestock mantra is "more with less"Sustainable intensification

Pastoralists produce "everything withnothing"

Extensification !

Acknowledgments• LPPS, Hanwant Singh

and Dailibai Raika• LIFE Network

partners: Gopikrishna,Dr. Athani, NilkanthKuruba, Dr. BalaramSahu

• Rainfed LivestockNetwork: KamalKishore

• IIED

• LPPS, Hanwant Singhand Dailibai Raika

• LIFE Networkpartners: Gopikrishna,Dr. Athani, NilkanthKuruba, Dr. BalaramSahu

• Rainfed LivestockNetwork: KamalKishore

• IIED

Thank you!