Plant Archives Vol. 18 No. 1, 2018 pp.

279-287 ISSN 0972-5210

FODDER DIVERSITY, AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION PATTERN IN

GARHWAL HIMALAYA, UTTARAKHAND.

Meena Nautiyal1*, P.Tiwari1, J.K.Tiwari1 and Dinesh Singh Rawat2

1
Department of Botany and Microbiology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal)–246174 (UK) India.
2
Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah-711103 (West Bengal) India.

Abstract
In Garhwal Himalaya, livestock are the important source of income in rural areas. Livestock mostly rely on fodder from forest.
The diversity, utilization pattern and season of availability is important to prioritization of fodder species in the area. The
present study attempts to enumerate 165 fodder species representing trees (68 spp.), shrubs (28 spp.), herbs (65 spp.) and
climbers (4 spp.). Poaceae (27 spp.) and Moraceae (12 spp.) amongst families and Ficus (9 spp.) amongst genera are rich in
species. 30 species are used in summer, 32 in winter, 47 in rainy and 28 in all over the year. Herbs are used as fodder mainly in
rainy season. Amongst the recorded species 148 species are used as green fodder while 5 spp. as dry species while remaining
species are used both as green and dry.
Key words: Fodder, diversity, used pattern, availability status, Garhwal Himalaya.

Introduction mid-hill of Himalayas, about 30-50% of total animal feed

Fodder and fuel wood are the two most important mainly grass and tree fodder is from forests and grasslands
livelihood resources for mountainous regions, of the (Singh and Naik, 1987; Bajracharya, 1999). As per
Himalayas (Ramakrishnan et al. 2000). Fodder plays a another study, approximately, two-thirds to three-fourth
critical role in the crop, livestock, manure and soil nutrient of the fodder requirement are met from the forest in mid
cycle in traditional farms in the mountains of the Himalaya. hills and 26-43% in the lower hill (Singh, 1999).
Collection of fodder is the first step that turns the wheel Interestingly, it has also been reported that dairy cattle
of the agricultural economy of the village community are also dependent on forest resources particularly in the
(Makino, 2009). This complex interrelationship between Himalayas (Tulachan et al., 2002).
forests, grasslands, livestock and crops in mountain Livestock rearing is an integral component of
farming systems has contributed to the sustainability of mountain farming systems. In the Uttarakhand Himalaya,
mountain agriculture for generations (Singh, 1994). there is a dynamic relationship among common property
Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) supports diverse resources (CPRs), livestock, and crops in the mixed crop-
habitats, species, populations, communities and livestock farming systems. Livestock depend, to a great
ecosystems. Vegetation is ranges from tropical to alpine extent, on fodder grown on the community land, forestland,
types. It supports about 18,440 species of plants, of which and as well as on crop residue. Meanwhile, the animals
about 8,000 species are angiosperm (Singh and Hajra, provide milk, manure, and much needed draught power.
1997). The goods and services such as fodder, fuelwood, Livestock are therefore, an important to the sustainability
wild edibles, medicine, house building, agricultural of hills and mountain farming. About 80% of the
implements, religious and various other purposes are being population’s livelihood is based on livestock rearing under
used by local communities (Samant and Dhar, 1997). In subsistence cereal farming systems.
hills, fodder trees, shrubs and grazing in the forests are Uttarakhand, inspite of being a small state, has certain
the main sources for the livestock feed including use of key features that make it distinct from other states of the
agricultural residue (Singh and Sundriyal, 2009). In the country and highlights its potential for development,
tourism, poultry and wool-based livelihoods, agriculture
*Author for correspondence : E-mail : [email protected].
280 Meena Nautiya et al.

diversification, ambient natural resources beside this, the (300-500masl); middle Himalaya (600-1000masl); and
state faces the challenge of promoting livelihoods to upper Himalaya (1100 -2500masl). The mainland of
minimize migration through local employment and income Uttarakhand constitutes about 92.6% of the total
generation, and to enhance the quality of life of people geographical land of the state. It is characterized by
living in villages. Uttarakhand is well endowed with dominance of subsistence cereal crops. It is also a main
forests, which constitute about 63.87% of the total source of livelihood. Besides, livestock rearing for milk
geographic area; about 4.04% is estimated to be under and manure and forest-based non-timber products
permanent pastures and other grazing lands. Out of the constitute major parts for livelihood. The availability of
total population of uttarakhand nearly 74.33% of the state natural resources as forest, water, and soil and manpower
lives in rural area, more than three-fourths of is enormous as the forest (mostly temperate) covers about
Uttarakhand’s total population depends on agriculture for 60% land and the rivers are fed by the glaciers, which
their livelihood (Mittal et al. 2008). Forests of the State are perennial.
are the repositories of great biological diversity and are The vegetation is predominantly of forest communities
extremely important as they provide ecological stability, with frequent interruption of scrub jungles, savannas,
timber, fodder and a variety of other produce to the local grassy localities and crop fields. The vegetation is
inhabitants. Livestock and animal husbandry have made categoriesed into:- (i) Submontane vegetation adjacent
these people more dependent on their immediate to Gangetic Plains, (ii) Submontane and montane
environment, to meet their daily requirements of fuelwood intermixed vegetation and (iii) Montane (temperate-like)
and fodder supply. vegetation. Several environmental factors control the
In the Uttarakhand Himalaya, farmers maintain distribution of vegetation, however, usually in the hilly
naturally regenerating tree species, particularly on edges tracts vegetation is demarcated on the basis of altitudinal
of terraced agriculture fields without any significant input gradient. In general, the climate of Garhwal Himalaya is
of manpower. This reduces the pressure from forest with less severe summer, higher precipitation and more
resources in terms of fodder and fuelwood along with prolonged winter (Gaur, 1999).
site improvement . Several tree species are used for fodder
purposes in Garhewal Himalaya. Grewia oppositifolia, Methodology
Morus serrata, Bauhinia variegata, Quercus Research was conducted by means of community
leucotrichophora, Quercus floribunda, Ilex dipyrena, based questionnaire survey. Surveys were conducted
Oogeinia oojeinensis, Boehmeria rugulosa, Morus during the years 2014 - 2015. For collection of fodder
alba ,Celtis australis are common species which are specimens frequent field trips were made during different
used as fodder in Garhwal Himalaya. seasons of the years. For this some areas of Garhwal
Several species of fodder yielding plants including Himalaya like Joshimath, Shivpuri and Adhwani were
herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs are present in the visited. Information regarding locality, feeding period,
submontane and montane zones in the mountains of mode of use, part used, and vernacular names were
Uttarakhand Himalaya. A few studies have been recorded by interviewing the villagers, old ladies, and
conducted on fodder resources in the Uttarakhand shephereds of the studied villages. Traditional knowledge
Himalaya by Anonymous 1982, Jackson 1985, Bhatt and system plays a key role in the use of any plant species as
Rawat 1993, Singh 1985, 1989, 2002, 2005, Jodha and fodder with species preference, the inhabitants of the
Shrestha 1990, Singh and Bohra 2005, Singh and Gaur area, especially old aged peasants and shepherds were
2005, Bohra 2006 and Singh et al. 2008. In the present consulted for determination of any plant species as fodder.
paper attempts has, therefore, been made to enlist plant Fodder collection sites were visited along with the villagers
species which are commonly used for cattle growing in during collection of fodder to mark the fodder species.
the area. Thus the present study deals with diversity and Surveys were carried out for seasonal lopping and
utilization pattern of fodder species in Garhwal Himalaya, utilization pattern of each species. Seasonal mode of use
Uttarakhand. (green and dry) were studied through direct observation.
The collected plant specimens were identified with the
Study Area help of regional flora and herbaria (BSD, DD & GUH).
The study covers some areas of Garhwal Himalaya
of Uttarakhand, which lies in between 29031.9’ N to Results
31026.5’N lat and 77033.5’E to 80060’ E long. Diversity
Physiographically, the whole terrain is mountainous and In the present study 165 plant species of fodder under
can be divided in to three zones-lower Himalayan zone

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 Fodder Diversity, availability and Utilization pattern in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand 281

Table 2: Some important fodder plants of the study area

Species name Local name Family Life Feeding Mode
form time of use
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Abies pindrow Brandis Raga Pinaceae Tree w G
Acer acuminatum Wallich ex D.Don Til- kanjul Aceraceae Tree R G
Acer caesium Wallich ex Brandis Kanjul Aceraceae Tree R G
Achyranthus aspera L. Sajji Amranthaceae Herb O G
Aesculus indica Hook. Pangar Hippocastanaceae Tree R G
Agrostis pilosula Trinius Poaceae Herb R G
Alnus nepalensis D.Don Utees Betulaceae Tree R G
Amaranthus viridis L. Chaulai Amranthaceae Herb A G
Anemone vitifolia Buch.-Ham. ex DC. Ranunculaceae Herb R G
Apluda Mutica L. Tachlu Poaceae Grass R G
Aplula aristata L. Poaceae Herb R G
Artemisia nilagirica Kunjaa Asteraceae Shrub S G
Arthraxon lancifolius Hochst. Kanglya Poaceae Herb O G
Arundinella pumila Steudel Poaceae Herb R G
Astilbe rivularis Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Saxifragaceae Shrub R G
Bauhinia purpurea L. Guiral Caesalpiniaceae Tree S/W G
Bauhinia semla Wunderlin Semla Caesalpiniaceae Tree A G
Bauhinia vahlii Wight & Am. Malu Caesalpiniaceae Climber W G
Bauhinia variegata L Guriyal Caesalpiniaceae Tree W G
Betula alnoides Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Bhojpatra Betulaceae Tree S G
Bidens pilosa L. Kumraya Asteraceae Herb O G
Boehmeria macrophylla D.Don Urticaceae Shrub S/W G/D
Boehmeria platyphylla D.Don Khagsa Urticaceae Shrub S G
Boehmeria rugulosa Wedd. Genthi Urticaceae Tree S/W G
Bothriochloa pertusa A. Camus Poaceae Herb R G
Brachiaria villosa A. Camus Malchu Poaceae Grass R G
Bridelia retusa Sprengel Ghayya Euphorbiaceae Tree W G
Broussonetia papyrifera Ventenat Ghagynyu Moraceae Tree A G
Carpinus viminea Lindley Corylaceae Tree S/W G
Celtis australis Hook. f. Kharik Ulmaceae Tree S G
Cenchrus ciliaris L. Godla Poaceae Herb R G
Chenopodium album L Bathua Chenopodiaceae Herb S G
Chenopodium botrys L Chenopodiaceae Herb S/R G
Chrysopogon fulvus Chiovenda Poaceae Grass S/W G/D
Chrysopogon gryllus Trinius Poaceae Grass R G
Commelina benghalensis L. commelinaceae Herb R G
Corylus jacquemontii Decne. Kabasi/ Bhotia-badam Betulaceae Tree S G
Cotoneaster bacillaris Wallich Ruins Rosaceae Shrub S G
Cymbopogon martinii W. Watson Poaceae Herb R G
Cynodon dactylon Persoon Dubla Poaceae Grass S G
Cynoglossum glochidiatum Wallich ex Benth. Lachkuru Boraginaceae Herb R G
Debregeasia longifolia Wedd. Ghinghara Urticaceae Tree S/W G
Debregeasia salicifolia Rendle. Tusharu Urticaceae Shrub W G
Dendrocalamus strictus Nees Bans Poaceae Grass W G
Desmodium elegans DC Chamla Fabaceae Shrub R G
Continued on.............

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282 Meena Nautiya et al.

Continue ............
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Desmodium laxiflorum DC. Fabaceae Shrub A G
Dicliptera bupleuroides Nees Kodi Acanthaceae Herb W G
Dodecadenia grandiflora Nees Lauraceae Tree S G
Echinochloa crus-galli P. Beauv. Jhavara ghas Poaceae Grass R/W G/D
Eleusine coracana Gaertner Mandua Poaceae Grass W D
Engelhardtia spicata Leschenault ex Blume Juglandaceae Tree S G
Eragrostis sp. Ginni ghas Poaceae Herb A G
Eranthemum palchellum Andrews Thunarya Acanthaceae Tree S G
Euonymus pendulus Wallich Celastraceae Tree S/W G
Euonymus tingen Wallich Celastraceae Tree S G
Eurya acuminata DC. Theaceae Tree W G
Fagopyrum dibotrys Hara Kanaya Polygonaceae Herb R G
Fagopyrum esculentum Moench Ougal Polygonaceae Herb S/R G
Ficus auriculata Lour. Timla Moraceae Tree W G
Ficus hederacea Roxb Moraceae Shrub A G
Ficus hispida L. f. Ghogsu Moraceae Tree W G
Ficus neriifolia Smith Khilku Moraceae Tree A G
Ficus palmata Forsk. Bedu Moraceae Tree S G
Ficus racemosa L. Gullar Moraceae Tree S G
Ficus sarmentosa Buch-Ham. ex J.E.Smith Moraceae Shrub A G
Ficus semicordata Buch.-Ham. ex J.E. Smith. Khainu Moraceae Tree S G
Ficus subincisa Buch.-Ham. ex J.E. Smith; Chanchari Moraceae Tree W G
Galinsoga parviflora Cav. Banglya/ Angeraji ghas Asteraceae Herb R/W G/D
Galium elegans Hara & Gould Rubiaceae Herb S/R G
Geranium wallichianum D.Don ex Sweet Geraniaceae Herb R G
Girardinia diversifolia Friis Urticaceae Herb W D
Grevia optiva Drummond ex Burret Bhimal Tiliaceae Tree W G
Hedera nepalensis K. Koch Araliaceae Climber S/R G
Heteropogon contortus P. Beauv. ex Roemer Poaceae Grass A G/D
& Schultes
Holarrhena pubescens Wallich ex G.Don Bakara Apocynaceae tree S G
Hordeum vulgare L. Jau Poaceae Grass S/W D
Hypericum choisianum Wallich ex N.Robson Hypericaceae Shrub S G
Hypericum elodeoides Choisy Hypericaceae Herb R G
Ilex dipyrena Wailich Aquifoliaceae Tree A G
Ilex excelsa Hook, f Aquifoliaceae Tree A G
Impatiens balsamina L. Jannu Balsamiaceae Herb R G
Impatiens scabrida DC. Balsamiaceae Herb R G
Indigofera heterantha Wallich ex Brandis Sakina Papilionaceae Shrub R G
Justicia simplex D.Don Acanthaceae Herb A G
Leucaena leucocephala De Wit Kurmurya Mimosaceae Tree S/W G
Leucas aspera Lamiaceae Herb O G
Lonicera quinquelocularis Hardwicke Caprifoliaceae Shrub S/W G
Lyonia ovalifolia Drude. Anyar Ericaceae Tree O G
Machilus duthei King ex Hook, f. Kaulu Lauraceae Tree S/W G
Mallotus phillipiensis Muell.-Arg. Ruina Euphorbiaceae Tree S G
Maoutia puya Wedd Urticaceae Shrub R G
Continued on.............

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 Fodder Diversity, availability and Utilization pattern in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand 283

Continue .............
Continue on............. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Melia azedarach L. Daikan Meliaceae Tree O G
Meliosma dilleniifolia Walpers Sabiaceae Tree A G
Miscanthus nepalensis Hackel Dab Poaceae Grass W G
Morus alba L. Shatoot Moraceae Tree S/W G
Morus serrata Roxb Kaimu Moraceae Tree S G
Murraya koeinghii Sprengel. Kadipatta Rutaceae Shrub S G
Neolitsea cuipala Kostermans Lauraceae Tree W G
Nicandra physalodes Gaertner Dhatura Solanaceae Herb R G
Oogeinia oojeinensis Hochreutiner Sandan Fabaceae Tree W G
Oryza sativa L. Dhan Poaceae Grass S/W D
Oxalis corniculata L. Oxalidaceae Herb A G/D
Pennisetum orientale L Musaya Poaceae Grass W G/D
Persicaria capitata H. Gross Rangaya Polygonaceae Herb R G
Persicaria nepalensis H. Gross Sara Polygonaceae Herb R G
Phoebe laceolata Nees Lauraceae Tree W G
Pilea scripta Wedd. Chau Urticaceae Herb R G
Pimpinella achilleifolia C.B. Clarke Apiaceae Herb R G
Pimpinella acuminata C.B. Clarke Apiaceae Herb R G
Pistacia khinjuk Stocks kakhad Anacardiaceae Tree S G
Polygonum amplexicaule D.Don Polygonaceae Herb R G
Polygonum capitatum Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don Polygonaceae Herb S G
Polypogon fugax Nees ex Steudel Poaceae Herb A G/D
Populus ciliata Wallich ex Royle Salicaceae Tree S/R G
Potentilla sp. Rosaceae Herb R G
Pouzolzia zeylanica J. Bennett & Brown Urticaceae Herb R G
Prinsepia utilis Royle Bhainkal Rosaceae Shrub R G
Prunus armeniaca L Chulu Rosaceae Tree W G
Prunus cerasoides D.Don Painyaa Rosaceae Tree W G
Prunus cornuta Steudel Rosaceae Tree S G
Pyrus pashia Buch.-Ham ex D.Don Melu Rosaceae Tree S G
Quercus leucotrichiphora A. Camus. Banj Fagaceae Tree W G
Quercus semecarpifolia J.E. Smith Kharsu Fagaceae Tree W G
Quercus floribunda Lindley ex Rehder. Tilonj Fagaceae Tree W G
Quercus glauca Thunb. Phaniyat Fagaceae Tree W G
Reinwartia indica Dumortier Phyuli Linaceae Herb R G
Rhamnus persica Boissier Jhnu Rhamnaceae Tree W G
Rhododendron arboreum Smith. Burans Ericaceae Tree O G
Rubia manjith Roxb. ex Fleming Rubiaceae Climber W G/D
Rubus ellipticus Smith Hisar Rosaceae Shrub O G
Rubus niveus Thunb. Rosaceae Shrub O G
Rubus paniculatus Smith Rosaceae Shrub O G
Salix acenophylla Boissier Gad-bhains Salicaceae Shrub A G
Salix denticulata Anderson Salicaceae Tree S G
Salix tetrasperma Roxb. Salicaceae Tree S/W G
Sarcococca saligna Muell-Arg. Chathul Buxaceae Shrub R G
Schleichera oleosa Oken Kusum Sapindaceae Tree S G
Scurrula elata Danser Loranthaceae Shrub R G
Continued on.............

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284 Meena Nautiya et al.

Continue ............
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Senecio nudicaulis Buch-Ham. ex D. Don Asteraceae Herb R G
Setaria pumila Roemer & Schultes Poaceae Grass R G/D
Smilax glaucophylla Klotzsch Kukurdara Smilacaceae Climber S/R G
Solanum nigrum L. Makoi Solanaceae Herb S/R G
Spiraea canescens D.Don Mairad Rosaceae Shrub R/W G
Sterculia villosa Roxb. Karnal Sterculiaceae Tree A G
Swida oblonga Sojak Cornaceae Tree R G
Symplocos paniculata Miq. Symplocaceae Tree S/R G
Symplocos ramosissima Wallich ex G.Don Symplocaceae Shrub S/R G
Synotis rufinervis C. Jeffrey & Y.L.Chen Pharpatti Asteraceae Herb W G
Taraxacum officinale Weber Asteraceae Herb R G
Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth Asin Combretaceae Tree W G
Terminalia bellirica Roxb. Baheda Combretaceae Tree S G
Terminalia chebula Retz. Harara Combretaceae Tree S G
Thalictrum foliolosum DC. Ranunculaceae Herb R G
Thamnocalamus falconeri Hook. f. ex Munro Ringal Poaceae Grass S/W G
Themeda arundinacea Ridley. Ulla Poaceae Grass R G/D
Thysanolaena maxima Kuntze Ball ghas Poaceae Herb R G
Toona Hexandra M Roemer Toon Meliaceae Tree S/R G
Triticum aestivum L. Genhu/ Chilau Poaceae Grass R D
Ulmus wallichiana Planchon Mairu Ulmaceae Tree S G
Urtica dioica L. Kandali Urticaceae Shrub W G
Viburnum erubescens Wallich ex DC. Teeling Carpifoliaceae Shrub R G
Vigna vexillata A. Richard. Fabaceae Herb A G/D
Woodfordia fructicosa Kurz. Dhaula Lythraceae Shrub w G
Rhus parviflora Roxb. Tungla Anacardiaceae Shrub w G
Table 2: Seasonal availability of fodder from main species in Garhwal Himalaya. 125 genera belonging to 60 families have
Summer Rainy Winter been identified and documented (table 2).
Tree leaves Amongst the families, maximum species
Celtis australis - Quercus leucotrichophora were represented in family Poaceae (27
Morus alba Q. floribunda spp.) followed by Moraceae (12 spp.),
Machilus duthei Q. semicarpifolia Rosaceae (12 spp.) Urticaceae (10 spp.),
Acer caesium Grewia optiva Asteraceae and Polygonaceae (6 spp. Each)
Acer acuminatum Machilus duthei
and Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Salicaceae,
Oogeinia oojeinensis
Caesalpiniaceae and Lauraceae (4 spp.
Other green fodder
Each) (fig 1). In remaining families <3
Weeds from field Weeds from field Weeds from field
Mustard ( Brassica spp.)
species were recorded. Poaceae is the
Urtica dioca dominant family with 26 genera followed by
Green grasses Rosacease and Urticaceae (7 genera each),
Echinochloa crus-galli Asteraceae (7 genera), Lauraceae (4
Apluda mutica genera) and Acanthaceae, Betulaceae,
Brachiaria villosa Fabaceae, Moraceae and Polygonaceae (3
Chrysopogon gryllus genera each). Species richness was highest
Dry fodder in the genus Ficus (9 spp.), followed by
Rice straw Wheat straw Rice straw Bauhinia and Quercus (4 spp. Each), Prunus,
Finger milletstraw Rubus, Boehmeria, Salix, Terminalia (3 spp.
Barnyad millet straw Each) (fig 2). In the remaining genera <3
Grass hay species were present.

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 Fodder Diversity, availability and Utilization pattern in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand 285

Fig 4: occurrence of fodder plants in different seasons.

Fig 1: Dominant families of the study area.

Fig 5: Graph showing mode of use of fodder plants.

Out of 165 species, 30 species were used in summer,

Fig 2: some dominant genera of study area. 32 in winter, 47 in rainy, 28 in all the three seasons, 15 in
summer and winter both, 10 in summer and rainy 9 (fig
4). Quercus leucotrichophora, Q. floribunda, Q.
semicarpifolia, Machilus duthei, Grewia optiva,
Bauhinia spp. and Ficus spp. are the major fodder, which
are topped during winter season. Celtis australis, Morus
serrata, Oogeinia oojeinensis, Acer spp., Ficus spp.,
Machilus duthei are the main fodder trees that are lopped
during summer. Dry fodders (crop residues and grass
hay) are often feed to livestock in winter season (table
1). It was observed that shrubs atre chiefly browsed by
goats and sheep. The leaves of Rubus, Ficus palmata,
Fig 3: Diversity of fodder plants in different life forms.
Prinsepia utilis, Rhamnus persica were feed to sheep
Out of 165 fodder soecies, 68 were trees, 28 shrubs, and goats. Amongst the recorded species, 148 species
65 were herbs and rest are climbers. (fig 3). were used as green and 5 as dry. The remaining species
Utilization pattern were used both as green and dry in the studied villages
(fig 5). Plant species such as Setaria pumila, Galinsoga
The utilization pattern of fodder species varied from
parviflora, Themeda arundinaceae, Chrysopogon
season to season. This variation in utilization pattern is
fulvus, Rubia manjith, Polypogon fugax, Boehmeria
due to the availability of species in respective seasons.
macrophylla, Heteropogon contortus were used both
Majority of the tree fodder species were used in summer
as green and dry in the studied villages
due to availability of deciduous species. However some
tree species are also used in winter, when the availability Discussion and Conclusion
of fodder was scarce, due to evergreen. Rainy season According to the respondents, there are seasonal
helps to produce plenty of green grasses and other variations in fodder availability. It was observed that trees
herbaceous plants which are used as fodder.

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286 Meena Nautiya et al.

are generally lopped in summar and winter seasons. dry forages in steers Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 128(1-2):
During rainy season, abundant green fodder is available 14-30
while shrubs are chiefly browsed by goats and sheep. Jackson, M.G. (1985). A strategy for improving productivity of
The findings agree with that of Samant et al. 2007 who livestock in the hills of Uttar Pradesh.In :Singh, J.S. (ed.)
listed 150 species of fodder including trees, shrubs and Environmental Regeneration in Himalaya: Concepts and
herbs which are used as fodder for livestock in the Indian Strategies, Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital.
Himalayan Region. Some of the species are similar with Jodha, N.S. and S. Shrestha (1990). Some Conceptual Issues of
that of our findings. Generally the local peoples cut fodder Livestock Farming in the Mountains. Mountain Farming
and then transport it as head load to their houses. This Systems Discussion Paper No. 4. ICIMOD, Kathmandu.
fodder can be used both in fresh and dried form. This Makino, Y. (2009). Oak forests, lopping, and the transformation
agrees with the findings of Gali et al. 2006 that species of rural society in central Himalaya, India. Ph.D. thesis,
were used both as fresh and dried fodder in Argentina. department of natural resources and environment,
University of Michigan.
Similarly Singh et al. 2008, reported 300 species of trees
, shrubs and herbs, which were found in the mid – altitude Mittal, S., G. Tripathi and D. Sethi (2008). Development Strategy
rangelands of Uttarakhand and used as fodder in both for the Hill Districts of Uttarakhand. Indian Council for
Research on International Economic Relations; pp.27
fresh and dried condition. It is clear from the study that
there is a shortage of the fodder in the area. Plants are Ramakrishnan, P.S., U.M. Chandrashekara, C. Elouard, C.Z.
Guilmoto, R.K. Maikhuri, R.S. Rao, S. Sankar and K.G.
heavily graed round the year. The species are becoming
Saxena (2000). Mountain biodiversity, landuse dynamic,
scarce because the forests and pasturelands are
and traditional ecological knowledge, UNESCO, New
converted to crop agriculture and to settlement. Results Delhi, India .
of the study suggest that there is a diversity of fodder
Samant, S.S. and U. Dhar ( 1997). Diversity, endemism and
plants in Garhwal Himalaya but due to reductions in
economic potential of wild edible plants of Indian Himalaya.
grazing areas it was hard to find fodder in enough quantity International Journal of Sustainable Development and
to fulfil the daily nutritional requirement of livestock. World Ecology, 4: 179-191.
Acknowledgement Samant, S.S., M. Singh, M. Lal and S. Pant (2007). Diversity,
Distribution and Prioritization of Fodder Species for
The present work was funded by the University Grant Conservation in Kullu District, Northwestern Himalaya,
Commision, New Delhi, through fellowship granted to India. Journal of Mountain Science, l 4(3): 259~274.
the author (Meena Nautiyal) is gratefully acknowledged. Singh, V. and D.G. Naik (1987). Fodder resources of central
We deeply thank and acknowledge the people of study Himalaya. In. Western Himalaya, Vol. I (Environment) (Ed.):
area who generously shared their knowledge. Y.P.S. Pangtey and S.C. Shri Joshi. Almora Publication,
Almora. 223 pp
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