The livestock production system in a village ecosystem in the Rawain Valley, Uttarakhand, Central Himalaya

Abstract

Animals in the Himalayan region are reared basically to supplement the family income and sustain crop production, and constitute an important component of the rural economy of the region. Given the ecological importance of the livestock production system in terms of intrinsic values as a life support system for local people and a contribution towards sustainable agriculture through its role in the maintenance of soil fertility, the present study was conducted. This paper describes and assesses the current status of livestock production systems, monetary input/output, status of available forest resources, current level of pressure on the livestock production system and recommends strategies for sustainable development of a livestock production system in the Rawain Valley of Central Himalaya.

Keywords:

• livestock
• animal husbandry
• monetary value
• fodder
• Central Himalaya

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the Director, GB Pant Institute for Himalayan Environment and Development for providing facilities. The authors thank DST/SSD and TSBF/GEF for providing financial support to conduct this study.