MARAG

Maldhari Rural Action Group

Agroecology For Pastoralist

Pastoralist are 10-12 percent in the worldPastoralists live with livestock which their main source livelihood .Pastoralist mainly dependents' on commons They live mostly in the areas where the potential for crop cultivation is restricted due to lack of rainfall and extreme temperatures. Pastoralist migrate to search grazing to one state to state nation to nation to search the grass and waterPastoralist is Culture which sustain the Food sovereignty

Pastoralists

Relation Between Agroecology and Pastoralist

Pastoralist inhabit in an unpredictable, vulnerable and dynamic environment, thus have developed successful mechanisms of adaptation to maintain an ecological balance between themselves and the natural environment.

Their main source of livelihood is livestock. So as to fulfill the requirement of fodder and water they rely on land (common land, agricultural land, dry arid land)

In search of pasture, the pastoralist migrate along with their livestock from on region to other. Mobility enables pastoralists to take advantage of pasture resources obtain sufficient supplies of food, forage and water.

It is widely recognized by ecologists that, the migrating system of the pastoralist represents a sustainable method of utilizing certain types of ecosystems, such as deserts, steppes and certain mountain areas. In fact, continued utilization of the world's arid lands very much depends on viable pastoral systems.

Why pastoralist is so important? Pastoralist provides valuable ecosystem services, namely:

• Maintains high level of biodiversity, increase soil cover, reduce erosion. Provides manure etc

Properly managed livestock can improve land health• Pastoralists are keepers. They have an traditional way

of managing livestock, thus they can be fundamental for maintaining biodiversity and soil fertility 

Issues of Pastoralists Reducing Common lands(source for fodder for livestock) Commons are encroach by multinational company and govt. Grass land and Graze land is decreasing Migration routs graze land encroach by the Forest and

industry No market for MILK,WOOL and MEAT Reducing the exchanging relationship between farmers and

pastrolist Pastoralist facing Legal problem during the migration No their own land at village No National or state policy on commons

As pastoralist are mainly depended on land for their livelihood, the above mention issues force the pastoralist to change their occupational patterns. Which will result in limited livestock.Limited livestock will an lasting effect on the ecosystem and the biodiversity.

Impact on Agroecology As pastoralist are mainly depended on land for their livelihood, the above mention issues force the pastoralist to change their occupational patterns. Which will result in limited livestock.Limited livestock will an lasting effect on the ecosystem and the biodiversity.

Recommendation National Policy on Commons Mapping the Migratory route and

Grazing land of the Pastoralist Promote, Recognize and Document

the Pastoralist knowledge to sustain the Agroecology

Promote the MARKET for Pastoralist for milk,meat and wool

Promote the concept of the Special Pastoralist Zone