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Livestock
Development Generates Income
Khilendra
Basnyat
Grazing and
forage production are still the extensive forms of land use, and half of the
world's grazing lands prevail where
climatic or soil conditions severely restricted crop cultivation. Livestock
production is therefore a complementary activity, and in some countries it is
the mainstay of the economy.
In developing
livestock, there is more than just supplying dairy products and meat. It also
provides employment, various by- products such as wool leather and fertilizer
apart from meeting transport needs in mountainous regions. However, there are
some hurdles that need to be overcome if the desired results are to be attained
within the specified time.
Insufficiency
of grazing grounds, especially in hilly and mountainous regions, makes
livestock development a difficult work. Overgrazing on some available pastures
has led to such a point where grass cannot be regrown.
Farmers see
some hope in the varieties of fast growing foddertrees. Much of their success
will however depend on popularizing them on a large scale. There is also a
great need to extend veterinary services in many rural areas.
If livestock
is to be developed, the tendency to import the foodstuff and the raw materials
which it provides should be discouraged. But for this some measures should be
taken to entice the farmers into producing them locally.
Farmers'
income can be increased through livestock development only if the productivity
of livestock is improved. This is possible through investment in disease
control, nutrition, breeding and management of rangelands