Management of grasslands in India: A policy perspective

Compound annual growth rate of various grazing resources and livestock population in India during 195051 to 2011–12 shows that area under grazing resources is continuously decreasing and livestock population is increasing at national level. It is observed that per livestock total grazing-land availability (including protected forest and unclassified forest) was only 0.20 ha/livestock in the year 2012, it implies that the stocking rate was five livestock against carrying capacity (0.20 to 1.47 adult cattle units (ACU/ha), IGFRI, 2014) during 2012 at all India level. The CAGR in availability of grazing-land is found about two percent in decelerating rate while livestock population over half percent in accelerating rate, which implies that grazing resources declining about four times of livestock population during last decade. The carrying capacity of grazing resources is over utilized. Grazing resources are declining continuously while livestock population increasing since last six decades. To sustain the grazing resources it is imperative that economic analysis based on societal perspective, intergeneration equity and valuation of grassland ecosystems services and its incorporation into planning process is necessary condition rather than only consideration of financial and profitability criteria.