Sustaining the livestock production in rainfed areas

Abstract

Livestock production systems in rainfed areas suffer from crop failures, fodder scarcity, water scarcity, heat stress and endemic animal diseases. Sustaining livestock production in rainfed areas is to ensure the availability of sufficient quantities of water for animal feed, adequate fodder and drinking water. It should be ensured that the animals get enough food and water from natural sources, which may include rainfall. Strategies like developing integrated farming systems, enhancing fodder production, protection from extreme weather conditions, disease surveillance and timely immunization against endemic diseases, scientific feeding and breeding management would create more sustainable livestock production systems in rural areas. Subsidies for livestock related activities, capacity building for livestock producers and the promotion of farmer-producing organisations in the livestock sector would make rainfed livestock production systems more resilient and appealing.