FODDER PLANTS AND LIVESTOCK MAINTENANCE: INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE ASSOCIATED WITH GARO TRIBES OF MEGHALAYA, INDIA
Abstract
The Garo tribes are inhabitants of Garo hill districts of Meghalaya. Due to their natural association and
dependence on forest for daily needs, they have old practice to utilize forest products for food, fodder,
medicine etc. Although, agriculture is the prime source of livelihood for a majority of rural population in
the Garo Hills, dependence on livestock as an alternative source of income is significant. Livestock
management is unique and is locally called ‘bathan’. The farmers have comprehensive indigenous
knowledge of taxonomy, nutritional value of fodder plants and were able to identify 43 species of fodder
trees under 32 genera belonging to 22 families. The farmers have some knowledge on utilizing locally
available plants for treating common ailments of their livestock’s. Forestry is the major source of leaf fodder
and bedding material for livestock in the hills. Therefore, stall feeding practices for livestock should be
encouraged. Farmers should be educated on the benefits of Agroforestry to encourage private plantation of
fodder tree species. For conserving the forest fodder- resources in a holistic manner there is a need for the
integration of ecological, environmental, social and economic sustainability in forest bio-diversity resource
management.
Downloads
Author(s) and co-author(s) jointly and severally represent and warrant that the Article is original with the author(s) and does not infringe any copyright or violate any other right of any third parties, and that the Article has not been published elsewhere. Author(s) agree to the terms that the IJRDO Journal will have the full right to remove the published article on any misconduct found in the published article.
