1-Livestock for sustainable livelihoods
Millions of poor people in the drylands of western India, the Deccan Plateau, and in the mountainous reaches of the Himalayas, depend only on livestock for their livelihoods. Keeping livestock is traditional and closely linked to rural culture, indicative of the fact that rural families have always realised the importance of livestock. These pastoralists depend heavily on the natural resources like forests and common lands for rearing their livestock.
This issue of the magazine brings out small examples where collaborative efforts and people-centric processes have created a good impact on livelihoods.
Table of contents:
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2 - 3
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4 - 5Livestock for sustainable livelihoods
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6 - 7written by Nitya S. GhotgeYoung farmers in Ratnagiri are successfully preserving the unique diversity of the region by integrating small scale agriculture with livestock production. Looking beyond short term gains, these young farmers are also spreading the sustainable agricultural practices to many others in the region.
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8 - 10written by Ilse Köhler-Rollefson , Karthikeya SivasenapathyFor most women in South India, rearing local breeds is hassle free, add-on and a part-time activity that can be combined with other income generating activities. Authors through a number of cases, highlight merits that these women see in local breeds like – low investment in terms of housing and feed, prolificacy and hardyness.
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11 - 13written by Mona DhamankarMaintaining the availability of adequate feed for livestock is crucial to small holders who depend on their animals for their livelihood. Traditionally, efforts to improve the quality and availability of fodder have focused on technology, but the Fodder Innovation Project is revealing that streghtening interactions among the various actors involved brings even better results.
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14 - 15written by C K RaoFarmers are trying out different options to improve the feed management in dairy animals. They are looking at options which reduce costs and at the same time do not affect the milk yields. The participatory technology development process provided a farmer centered extension mechanism, enabling knowledge enrichment, for farmers as well as for researchers.
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16 - 17written by Narayan G HegdeMitigating global warming while providing sustainable livelihoods
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18 - 20written by Aman Singh , Aditya GuptaOrans are a source of food fodder, water and fuel to the livestock communities living in the foothills of Aravallis. Local communities, with the support of KRAPAVIS, an NGO continue to uphold the beneficial practice of preserving Orans
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21 - 22written by Narayan G Hegde , Rajendra K MahuliGoats are increasingly seen as a threat to the ecology as they feed on any type of plant species. But goat keeping continues to be an important livelihood activity for the resource poor people. BAIF has promoted a number of initiatives with twin goals of helping small farmers in rearing goats and also protecting the environment.
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23 - 24written by Mireille VermeulenOlivier De Schutter is the United Nations special rapporteur on the right to food. He aims to inform people at the highest political levels about the role that smallholders play in the world’s food production systems. He hopes that this will make decision-makers more sensitive to their needs and rights.
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25 - 25written by Sagari Ramdas , Vinod AhujaLivestock services are crucial for a healthy, resilient stock of animals. Small-scale family farmers need these services too, but how do they profit best and how can service delivery become most sustainable? Should it be “public good”, financed and organized by the state, or can private corporations do a better job? Two views…
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26 - 28written by Sanjay Joshie , Rahul ChaturvediInvestments in strong institutional arrangements in common property resources can contribute to better access to fodder and water for the poor livestock keepers. A strong institution and collective action has helped improve commons, thereby improving the livelihoods of poor livestock keepers in Udaipur region.
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29 - 29written by Ranganath Babu , B V JoshiAn inspiring account of Veerakempanna
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30 - 31Recent evidence from India suggests that rearing indigenous poultry rather than focusing on commercial breeds that give a higher yield can significantly contribute to the self sufficiency and cultural wealth of rural communities – as well as boosting their income.
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32 - 32written by L. Narayana ReddyIndigenous breeds are always profitable than cross breeds
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33 - 33
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34 - 34
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35 - 36The development of Livestock Keepers Rights and the Biocultural Protocols will be important tools in supporting the livelihoods of livestock keeping communities and the survival of the biodiversity they have managed over centuries.
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