Shrinking Pastures and Grazing Lands: A Concern to Small Livestock Holders

This paper has examined the grazing pressure of livestock population on permanent pastures and grazing lands (PP&GL) and its implications for small livestock holders. The carrying capacity of pastures and grazing lands has been estimated in terms of number of adult cattle units that can sustain on this resource. The information on area under PP&GL, livestock population and number of marginal and small holdings for 14 major livestock states was compiled from diverse sources. The study has revealed that during 1980–81 to 2007–08, the area under PP&GL declined from 120 lakh ha to 102 lakh ha and livestock population in the country increased from 4230 lakh to 5297 lakh. Thus, grazing pressure in terms of livestock per unit of PP&GL at country level has increased from 35 to 52 animals, whereas the carrying capacity per unit of PP&GL was less than 1 adult cattle unit. The shrinking trends were of more concern in the states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The paper has suggested that efforts should be made to protect these common resource in the interest of resource-poor livestock holders.