The migratory shepherds ofRajasthan: Is NRUE (NaturalResource Use Efficiency) an

appropriate concept to evaluatetheir performance?

The migratory shepherds ofRajasthan: Is NRUE (NaturalResource Use Efficiency) an

appropriate concept to evaluatetheir performance?

Ilse Koehler-Rollefson

India‘s Livestock Cultures

• Many of them are NOMADS, but they are noteconomically marginal, they are an

ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE !

Largely to be credited with making India theworld’s largest exporter of sheep and goat

meat

• Many of them are NOMADS, but they are noteconomically marginal, they are an

ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE !

Largely to be credited with making India theworld’s largest exporter of sheep and goat

meat

Migratory shepherds from Godwararea (Desuri and Bali Tehsils of Pali

District

Dera=herding groupcomposed of 6-20 dolri

DolriPatell

Maintain soil fertilityand utilize “left-overs”

Meat output of sample area

• Min. 40 deras with an average of 3500 ewes= ca.140,000 ewes.

• These produce ca. 30,000 saleable male lambs@Rs. 2500= Rs. 75,000,000,

• 11kg liveweight for a 2-3 months old lamb=330,000 kg live weight

• With a dressing percentage of around 50%, thiswould mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs

• All this meat would have been produced withoutany use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer,tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.).

• Min. 40 deras with an average of 3500 ewes= ca.140,000 ewes.

• These produce ca. 30,000 saleable male lambs@Rs. 2500= Rs. 75,000,000,

• 11kg liveweight for a 2-3 months old lamb=330,000 kg live weight

• With a dressing percentage of around 50%, thiswould mean 165,000 kg of meat from lambs

• All this meat would have been produced withoutany use of non-renewable resources (fertilizer,tractor fuel, transportation of feed, etc.).

Besides meat and dung, milk is also an importantproduct for household consumption and sale (duringpart of the year)

The Raika areastute breeders,continuouslyexperimenting forthe most suitablegenotype. Theypaid 20,000 Rs forthis ram (“Baradi”)as a lamb

The Raika areastute breeders,continuouslyexperimenting forthe most suitablegenotype. Theypaid 20,000 Rs forthis ram (“Baradi”)as a lamb

From all perspectives – local livelihoods, livestock production,as well as continued soil fertility – it is adamant and urgentthat the migratory sheep pastoralists are not squeezed outand that sufficient space for them is retained in the cropcycle!This system is not backward, but ecological and, in that sense,modern.

Grazing is the most common nature conservationmeasure in Germany.

Pastoralists are

„Guardians of biological diversity“(FAO, 2010)

Rajasthani shepherds (and pastoralistselsewhere)

• Combine food production with biodiversityconservation

• Uphold soil fertility• If they fall out of the system, it would mean

enormous loss in terms of– Foreign currency earnings– Crop output– Rural livelihoods– Biodiversity (breeds and wildlife)

• Combine food production with biodiversityconservation

• Uphold soil fertility• If they fall out of the system, it would mean

enormous loss in terms of– Foreign currency earnings– Crop output– Rural livelihoods– Biodiversity (breeds and wildlife)

International agreements and processesthat support biodiversity conservation

• Global Plan of Action on Animal GeneticResources (GPA)

• United Nations Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD)

• Global Plan of Action on Animal GeneticResources (GPA)

• United Nations Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD)

Convention on Biological Diversity

• Article 8j of CBD:„Contracting partiesshall…subject to national legislation, respect,preserve and maintain knowledgeinnovations and practices of indigenous andlocal communities embodying traditionallifestyles relevant for the conservation andsustainable use of biological diversity…..“

.

• Article 8j of CBD:„Contracting partiesshall…subject to national legislation, respect,preserve and maintain knowledgeinnovations and practices of indigenous andlocal communities embodying traditionallifestyles relevant for the conservation andsustainable use of biological diversity…..“

.

The Global Plan of Action for Animal GeneticResources

• The Global Plan of Action forAnimal Genetic Resources thatwas agreed upon by all FAOmember countries in Interlaken(Switzerland) in September, 2007,recognizes the role of pastoralists(and other livestock keepers) inthe conservation and sustainableuse of „animal genetic resources“

• The Global Plan of Action forAnimal Genetic Resources thatwas agreed upon by all FAOmember countries in Interlaken(Switzerland) in September, 2007,recognizes the role of pastoralists(and other livestock keepers) inthe conservation and sustainableuse of „animal genetic resources“

A new tool: Biocultural Community Protocols

• Backed by the Nagoya Protocolof the UN-Convention onBiological Diversity

• Tool for claiming status as„indigenous or localcommunity….“

• Biocultural Protocols documentthe role of a community inconserving animal geneticresources and eco-systems,contribute to visibility andawareness

• Backed by the Nagoya Protocolof the UN-Convention onBiological Diversity

• Tool for claiming status as„indigenous or localcommunity….“

• Biocultural Protocols documentthe role of a community inconserving animal geneticresources and eco-systems,contribute to visibility andawareness

Conclusions

• Security is essential for the nomads and fortheir herds

• Better access to animal health care need to beurgently addressed.

• In order to achieve this, government urgentlyneeds to engage in a multistakeholderdialogue with shepherds, farmers, localauthorities and scientists to ensure its survivalinto an ecological future!

• Security is essential for the nomads and fortheir herds

• Better access to animal health care need to beurgently addressed.

• In order to achieve this, government urgentlyneeds to engage in a multistakeholderdialogue with shepherds, farmers, localauthorities and scientists to ensure its survivalinto an ecological future!

Acknowledgments

• Misereor and IIED (International Institute forEnvironment and Development) for financialsupport

• RLN (Rain-fed Livestock Network) for guidance• Raika shepherds

• Misereor and IIED (International Institute forEnvironment and Development) for financialsupport

• RLN (Rain-fed Livestock Network) for guidance• Raika shepherds