Improvement of Livestock Productivity in Arid Region

Abstract

Indian hot arid zone covering landmass of 0.32 million km2 and the cold arid area of 8.4 million ha with drought occurrence frequency of 47% in the last century in the hot desert makes this area difficult for agriculture. With poor soil conditions, higher evapotranspiration and higher wind velocity resulting in soil erosion and adversely affecting agricultural production, livestock husbandry assumes great importance as an effective drought management measure. The hot arid zone of Rajasthan distributed in 12 districts of the state have livestock population of 29.08 million, which is about 50% of the total population of the state. Of the total species wise livestock population available in Rajasthan, arid regions have 40.46% cattle, 29.77% buffaloes, 70.37% sheep, 53.80% goats and 82.14% camel. Except in the districts of Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar, where large ruminant production system of cattle and buffalo is dominant, in all other districts the small ruminant production system is prevalent, accounting for 55 to 77.5% of total livestock population. The camels represent about 80% of the total population of state (Livestock census, 2008).