1. Improving productivity of common grazing
resources in hot arid region of India
through participatory pasture development
A K Misra, R P Singh, Rajendra Kumar* and M M Roy
Central Arid Zone Research Institute
*Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samithi
Jodhpur

2. INTRODUCTION
• Income from livestock: 22.5 % of the
total HH income
• In arid region the contribution of
livestock is >50%
• Large areas as common grazing
resources are gradually diminishing
because of other pressures on land
• Fodder scarcity is becoming an
increasing concern for households

3. Farming systems in arid region : Scenario
D
o
m
i
n
a
n
t
Range/PastureLivestock
farming
Agroforestry,
Mixed farming
Livestock farming
Arable cropping
(Crop diversification)
Agroforestry
Livestock farming
F
S
Shrubs
Grasses
250
Trees
350
Av. Ann. Rainfall
Crop diversification
450

4. Process adopted
• Systemic and evidence-based
analysis to define agreed and
effective rules and procedures
to use and manage CPRs
• Formation of VDCs, people ’ s
participation and management
• Interventions
were
jointly
planned and implemented by
the villagers
• Technical backstopping and
improved seed of range
grasses KVK, CAZRI

5. Study site
Villages
Ketukallan
B. Ratangargh
Begaria
Govindpura
Pasture
land (ha)
CPR (ha)
Pasture
developed
(ha)
Large animals
Small
ruminants
250
20
37
184
991
16
375
13
192
10
843
17
325
1392
523
4213
412
1870
261
600

6. Contribution of grazing in livestock feed
Dry fodder
40%
Grazing
31%
Concentrate
3%
Green fodder
26%

7. FEED CALENDER
Type
Months
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Grazing on
rangelands
Crop residues in
fields
Tree leaves
Tree pods
Weeds and grasses
Feed shortage
--------------------
----
----------

8. CPR and Livestock
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
CPR (ha)
ACU (No)

9. Interventions
• Range grasses:
Cenchrus ciliaris (C.C. 358)
Cenchrus setigerus
Lasiurus sindicus
• Tree components (10 x 10m):
Acacia senegal
Acacia tortilis
Azadirachta indica
Prosopis cineraria.

10. Biomass yield
Biomass production ( t/ha)
Control
3
2.5
2
t 1.5
/
h
1
a
0.5
0
Ketu Kala
BhaluRatangarh
Begaria
Govindpura
Higher survival was observed in A. tortilis, followed
by A. senegal and lowest in A. indica.

11. Impact
• Harvested biomass was
stored as ‘ fodder bank ’
for weaker section of the
society at reasonable
price during stress period
• Two quintal grass seed
was provided to Jal
Bhagirithi,

12. Impact
• The productivity of animals
increased due to availability of
quality fodder during dry months
• Preference for rearing milking
animals
of
better
quality
become evident against the
prevailing practices of keeping
large number of animals of less
productivity.

13. Conclusion
• Sustainable development in
arid areas can only be
achieved through optimum
utilization of its natural
resources.
• Tremendous
scope
of
increasing
livestock
productivity by improving
fodder resources from CPR
• Favorable policy environment
will have to be provided and
socio-economic and technical
constraints needs to be
addressed.

14. akmishra@cazri.res.in
akmishra@cazri.res.in