Page 75 - Agroforestry system - book inner (web) - 9-3-21_Neat

National level e-symposium on “Agroforestry system for augmenting livestock
productivity and empowering resource poor rural farmers”

silvicultural system. Besides providing fruits/fuelwood/fodder trees grown along bunds also restrict/check
erosion.

Private and community fodder/wood blocks
Fodder tree forests in the vicinity of villages, be they on forest land, community land or private land are
jointly managed by the managers to meet their fodder need for cattle during lean period i.e. winter season. In the
mid and high hills of Himalayas Quercus spps. (Oaks) forests are jointly managed and protected for the same
whereas in the foot hills or sub-mountainous region other broad leaved trees i.e. Grewia optiva (Buel), Celtis
australis (Khirik), Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar) etc. are managed so as to meet fodder and fuel requirements.

At the onset of winter (October/November), flocks of sheep and goat migrate to Kangra valley and
Pathankot or Dehradun, thereby avoiding fodder scarcity. During early April, folks return to their respective
villages so as to manure fields, during the early growing season. Thereafter, malundi or shepherds gather
the village stock for summer grazing in trakar/pastures situated on dhars/high mountain peaks. As summer
approaches, the stock migrates to still higher altitudes. At the end of the growing season, (September/October),
when winter returns, sheep and goats are brought back to the lower ranges from the high altitude areas,
following traditional routes. This grazing practice sustains the grazing pressure. It also enhances the nutrient
recycling in these areas to a great extent.

Livestock constitutes an important component of rural life as it forms the life line of the people, providing
them with milk, meat and energy. Sheep, goats, local cows, mules, donkeys and crosses of cow and yak
(churu) are kept by the farmers primarily as a source of manure. Churu are preferred as they are well adapted
to the area and their milk yield is also higher. Cow and goat milk is used in this temperate region. Sheep and
goats are a good source of meat and wool besides providing manure for the fields. Since most of the livestock
is less productive, steps are being taken to improve livestock through selection and cross breeding to enhance
quality and quantity of their produce.

Hay/dry grass storage in fields

In temperate zone, a practice specific to Lahaul & Spiti valley and also operational in other regions
involves cutting, drying and subsequent storing of grass from the natural grasslands (ghasni) at considerable
moisture level in the form of ghors. The grass is cut after the dew has evaporated and the swaths are left in the
form of bundles (poola) to dry in the field itself by different methods so that its green colour and leaf characters
are conserved. To achieve these characters it is dried under shade, along walls, fences, on trees or on roofs.
This dry grass which is leafy is known as ‘hay’ and is used for feeding animals during lean periods i.e. winter
and summer months. This practice affords the advantage of maintaining the quality of grass by protecting
it from snow and rain. Pressure of stones and wooden logs on the upper layers provides protection against
strong winds. During winter months, the required quantity of grass is removed from the ghor periodically
which remains completely dry and warm and is therefore relished by the livestock. In most cases the grass
is harvested when it is completely dry and devoid of leaves and is consequently poor both in quality and
quantity.

52 Institute of Animal Nutrition, Centre for Animal Production Studies, TANUVAS
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development