Dear Mahesh: I enjoyed your recount of your native land agricultural customs. I also liked your proposals. What I would like to see is not only what you propose, but also HOW you propose to carry them on. I mean, a kind of a concrete project through which you or perhaps a group of your students can materialize the interesting things you propose. Best of lucks and best wishes.

Well thought nice concept. Livestock belong to animal scientists and Agriculture belong to Agric Scientists,but fodder does not belong to any of them. The conditions are still burst in hill ares. In brief this project will be able to fill in this gap. Will also highlight the importance and role of woman in livestock production and management in rural ares .

Dear Mahesh Sir,
The benefits go much beyond…
prevention of soil erosion, bio-fuel, soil restoration etc.. As per an old adage of Uttaranchal, “Baanj (Quercus leucotrichophora) ke jungle main koi pyaasa nahi rahta” meainingnobody is thirsty in an oak forest. This is perhaps because they hold a lot of water.
Regards,
Sanjay

Dear Mahesh,

Scarcity of fodder for cattle is a big issue all over India, more in hills where it is difficult to grow them due to topographical and land related reasons. I have myself seen women toiling hard to collect fodder from forest or other such areas, spending entire day in the process, which indeed is a very hard work. I feel that enough has not been done to ensure year round fodder availability which requires less rigorous work in collection. In India, where ever increasing population is putting enormous pressure on all natural resources including land, ensuring food for humans along with fodder for animals (which ulimately adds to the food basket of the humans) must be given due importance by the policy planners. I am aware that due to paucity of land it is not possible by the farmers to allocate sufficient land to grow fodder, here comes the importance of agro-forestry which can support the animal population by providing fodder. So the need of the hour is to plant and nurture such species of forest trees which also provide fodder. Empowerment of women with stake in such plantations would go a long way in making them sustainable. Men must learn to appreciate and cooperate with women in making the whole effort meaningful.

You must go ahead with the proposal which would certainly benefit women,livestock in particular and society in general in the hills.

Sir

I too witnessed hill woman farmers carrying forest produce on their back from deep forest to feed their livestock during survey of my doctoral work in Uttarakhand state.
the forest tree leaves rich in medicinal value are selectively collected and preferred by these women for feeding livestock. so, life insurance will definitely help them. However, improving the fodder availability through better practices and the needful training and awareness in these aspects also better their lives.

Regards
Subrahmanyeswari

I had been to Central himalayan region for 8 years and had observed the drudgery of the hill women. almost 20 % of their time is spent for fodder collectiuon from the forest.
Sanjay

Sir,
I am heartily agreed about the minute points raised in your article, I too witnessed your work for Hill people during the year 1997-98.For sustainable agriculture your research is so valuable ,
1)importance of fodder trees like Baanjh(oak) in spite of pines etc., their potential for multiple uses especially for fodder availability is documented.
2)needful training and awareness programs with proper follow up is needed.
3)most of villages’ in Uttarakhand retained only with aged peoples, rest are either migrated to earn or better education in nearby city or town areas.
I am residing nearby National park (Jim Corbett) but I am unable to get cow’s milk accept Anchal’s(milk distributed by cooperatives)
During 2006-2010 I was in Pithoragarh (Middle Himalaya), there women continued to do most of the animal husbandry related tasks, they spent substantial time on fodder collection, hey making (in some places I provided training to make hay and silage too) etc. but the life of women there remained same regarding fodder needs for their livestock.

There is a need of quality education, since childhood ,as Principal of Sr.Secondary school I used to say my faculty to provide quality education sometime based on your findings to make students better citizen and custodial of environment.
I also refer your article published in LISA India and journals of Organic farming.
Today really men do not start appreciating women’s role & share their livestock related activities including fodder harvesting from trees.
Due to increased population of monkeys in the hill areas of Uttarakhand in last 15-20 years agriculture activities are reduced, so animal husbandry and ladies are futures only hope.

Mountain farming is a family farming system wherein farming is immersed in their daily routine irrespective of season or reason. Livestock rearing and farming convereges as a Livelihood for every family member. Yes, women carry this burden of rearing and raising family most. Generations have passed by but the scenario remains as it was in 1960s &1970s. With little opportunities for leisure and pleasure activities, they remain compleltely cut-off from the mainstream development. Even the mass media like radio and television could not do much to change their life and lifestyles. However, I personally feel if community radio can give voice to their age-old problems and narration, and inspire the scientists to evolve appropriate farming strategies coupled with proper development strategies which will mitigate their suffferings.

Sir ! Happy to see your blog. It is informative as well as educative in nature. It is useful for all of us.

I Love this and appreciate I also come from a mountainous area of Uganda (Mt Elgon, Kapchowa) and this are the same issues faced by women. i have been thinking hard lately on intervention measures that address the fodder question as well as the looming climate changes without risking the livelihood options women have.

Thank you all for your comments! it has been my silent concern for long. Hopefully this kind of sharing, thanks to blogging opportunity here, I could share with all of you. Hopefully, something would be done to change the destiny of women, trees & livestock in Central Himalayas in particular. There is hope, let us keep it alive! pl keep sharing your views on this important issue.

Dear Sir ! Great…………………happy to see your blog as it is highly informative and educative in nature.

Dear Dr.Mahesh Chander
Thanks for raising the issue of fodder which is very important from the view point of the livestock owners. Surprised to see the way the fodder is being harvested from the trees for feeding their cows. We need to focus our attention to increase the fodder availability to sustain the livelihoods of the livestock dependent poor people. In this context we should not forget the play of other important elements like govt. policy, local extension agencies and also the farmers groups. Through this blog, glad you are trying to sensitize the stakeholders on the scarcity of fodder which continues tor remain e constraint for livestock development.
Keep it up.

Sir
It is very thought full concept .
good luck

I found Gilaricidia, Murungai etc are very useful Multipurpose / nitrogen fixing trees for our Tamilnadu India region

Will post my blog shortly with details

Ganesan RP

Sir i am very much to see your blog with good matter to all use.

Sir , I am very much Happy to see your blog and useful to all of us.

there is no comments to you pl

Dear Sir,
A creative and noble idea. Keep it up.

dr. bankey bihari

Sir
This is the first blog of yours I have read, and it is very interesting and thought provoking. It reveals the pathetic conditions of the hill farm women and the fodder crisis. Of course the suggestions given by you , if implemented can salvage the hill women from the drudgery . The blog is really very good .

Sir,
This is real problem of hill region specially true for kumaon and garhwal hills.I am very happy to know that your grandmother keeps a cow .
It is really a very good real in story form.
This blog is very good.

Sir
Its good matter and i like it ….

Dear Mahesh Sir,
We are from similar background and my mum had similar thoughts in north India although not hilly. I proud on your dedications and commitments to achieve such wonderful things in life. As you know I am very impartial in passing my comments and thoughts which could be stupid occasionally. India needs more people like you and more researchers like. I always carry village life of India in my heart. I worked in Himalayan hills for around 2 years and I found myself very close to people. They are best people on earth. I would appreciate everything you do for them. You are lucky your mum is witnessing your work for people and woman. My mum passed away when I was about complete my graduation. I am always here to support your work and worthy thoughts. God bless you…. although I believe in Karma.

Dear Dr Chandra, your blog touched my heart. I have long association with Garhwali & Kumaoni hills. I understand the misery of hill women, who are real back bone there. Women collecting fodder from forest, tree tops & carrying back to home is a common sight there.

The same situation continues in the eastern part of the country. Clean Drinking Water and Cattle Management is really big problem and there is no substitute for the both.

Dear Dr. Mahesh,
It is in fact an excellent idea. A commendable effort.
Keep it up.

great going sir…All the best..:)

Dear Dr. Chander, fodder and women s participation in livestock is very important you had rightly discussed in the blog.

Dear Sir,
Your idea is excellent. In hilly areas, fodder is the main problem in livestock sector due to limited and fragmented land holdings, that too entire land is used for crop / vegetable/ maize production. Animals are fed on dried wild grass (ghasni) and dried maize stalk. If we can do something by technological interventions, it will be a great help to women of hilly region. Apart from this, we should also motivate man of hilly areas to share responsibility to reduce the work load of women. Social scientist like you can play vital role as you are well acquainted with hilly environment.

Dear Mr. Mahesh,

This is the first blog of yours I have read, and it is very interesting and thought provoking. It reveals the pathetic conditions of the hill farm women and the fodder crisis.Your blog is really appreciable.

Sir,

Its one of the innovative idea and most required research in these days that most of our village population has been depending on the milk for the livelihood.

Its age old problem. I am basically southern part of Karnataka from a forming family. We usually receive an average rain fall of 750 mm. Here people also face fodder problem for their cattle. Most of people depends on milk for the livelihood. but 80 to 90 percept of cattle rearing work was carry out by the household sector in this region. every day in the early hours they go for fodder collection instead of cooking. In their daily routine life most of the time they discuss about availability of fodder and fire wood.

Recently when I visited my village our neighbour farmer has adopted one technology specially for the fodder. What ever the waste (the cattle doesn’t like to consume)that is available from the agriculture they will put it in a storage tank made out of stones and cement) in the form of layers and they sprinkle jiggery water on that waste. They store for some time after that it is very nutritious and taste for animals and from that he is getting more milk also. From this technology the external feeding cost to the cattle of the farmer has been reduced drastically.

It reduces the drudgery of the women to most extent with the better income.
Their is no need for the women to make their life more risky.

But its bit costly and need some space to store that agriculture waste
I was impressed with that technology.

Kindly go carry on this research its most required for the village community.

Sir,
It’s innovative and most required research in India like most of the population depending on the milk for the livelihood.

It’s an age old problem. I am basically from southern part of Karnataka from a forming family. I don’t have much idea about hilly areas. We receive an average rain fall of 750mm. Here also people facing fodder problem for their castles. 70 t0 80 % of women spending most of their time in cattle raring. Every day in the early hours they go for fodder collection instead of cooking. Most of the families depend on cattle raring for their livelihood.

Recently when I visited my village I noticed that our neighbour farmer has adopted a technology that they are preparing the nutritious fodder from the agriculture waste (i.e cattle doesn’t like to eat). They collect a waste from the agriculture store it in a tank (made out of stones and cement) in the form of layers and the sprinkle jiggery water and they store it for some time. After that it becomes very nutritious and testy for the cattle to eat.

From that farmer is getting more milk with limited feed
It has been reduced the extra feeding cost for the farmer.
It has been reduced the drudgery to the women and decrease the risk.

But,
It requires little space to store the agriculture waste and bit expensive for the small farmers and time.
Pre planning should be required
If it’s required they can make this idea in a cooperative basses.

It’s my small input to your innovative idea.

I am interested to know your innovative idea little more.

Mahesh sir,
Coming from the same background- hills of Kumoan , Didihat tehsil of Pithoragarh district to be specific, I too have heard the hardships hill women face in collecting fodder for the animals, the injuries they suffered, the health problems they developed and also the distance they covered to fetch fodder.During my doctoral work in Kumaon hills during 1998-99, I witnessed the fact in real. “Feminization of agriculture” is an age old concept for my hills ….. “Moneyorder economy” was the term given to it…..but the hardships of hill women never decreased.
I too recommend “Cultivated fodder production” and research for “enhancing the biomass of the important fodder trees” of these hills.. These steps would surely work towards reducing the drudgery of the hill women.

dear Mahesh
Your observations are well deserved specially in fragile agro ecosystem of Shiwaliks.

Dear dr
Great COMGRATULATIONS for new idea ,go ahead it is very useful tool

Dear Dr Mahesh,
I went through your blog which has come out of your keen observation and deep feeling for the region. I appreciate that and would like you to play little more role in alleviating the drdgery of women and family as well by formulating a viable project associating all the agencies working for betterment of rural people through improvement of livestock which is backbone of agriculture in the region. I have voted you by clicking 5 stars. Very best of luck to you.
Regards,

Dr. A.B. Pandey
Head, Division of Virology & Station In-Charge
Indian Veterinary Research Institute
Mukteswar Campus
Nainital (Dist.)
Uttarakhand 263138
India

I am just overwhelm by your responses & emails being sent by you! It a mater of satisfaction for me you cared to read & respond to my blog! Thank you!

Sir,

You have rightly mentioned your experiences regarding women and fodder in Himalayan / Kumaoun hills. I was at VPKAS , Almora for about 8 years and seen same plight in lower middle and upper hills. We collected the information and used brain to over come the problem. If have any opportunity will like to share. I worked in Dandeswar watershed near to Famous ” Jageswar temple of Lord Shiva” of Dholadevi block of Almora and gone to very deep on the issue. Latter on we given 1000 of saplings of fodders trees and grasses to over come the problem. Bhimal ( Grewia optiva) is there main choice.

Though there are many talks on women issue but still very little extension agents are women. Most of our extension literature not able to reach to mind of local women as they had dialogue in Kumaon language.

Dear Mahesh,

Thanks for your blog on the role of women and their valuable contribution to livestock sector especially in hilly regions conditions are really extremely difficult and not conducive. Despite these adverse situations they strive hard and sacrifice for the welfare of not only to their families but also country. Your suggestions to focus on enhancing research efforts for ‘Enhancing the biomass of important fodder trees ‘ is commendable.

I am also of the opinion that even in my home state Karnataka the drought prone areas of Northern districts there is a perpetual need for fodder for livestock. Although I am not into Extension activity but I am aware that but for these brave women their families and livestock would not have survived. Some of the comments are very constructive and i also appreciate Dr. Nethravati, s suggestion for improving the nutritive quality of crop residues which would have gone as waste.

Dear Sir,
Fodder scarcity for livestock farmers is now a national problem and Uttarakhand is not an exception of this. Moreover, due to difficult terrain, farmers especially women are facing relatively more problems in animal nutrition and this issue is major part of their lives/talks as mentioned by you. I like you last mentioned point, asking greater involvement of men in this dimension with appreciation to women. These men can be trained to explore entrepreneurial avenues with low cost user friendly technologies like UMMB and complete feed block and in scarcity of raw material, utilization of non-conventional feed may be explored.
Yes, there are problems but I believe that perseverant hilly residents will definitely bring innovative solutions with the necessary technical support from research institutions. Few success stories in this dimension will motivate all stakeholders especially rural youth. Please share the success stories from Uttarakhand if any. If not please create someone.

Thanks for nice thought crafted in magnificent way.
Best regards,
Rahul

Dear Sir,
I am very happy to read your blog which is more informative and more valuable for students and academicians of related field.

Regards

Pankaj.

good evening sir,
its a fantastic way to share , generate and communicate your ideas by blogging to create a mass consensus about a particular area/subject. i congratulate you for your efforts and bid my best wishes to work.
thanks
regards
mukesh thakur

Dear Sir,
The topic of discussion about fodder and livestock is very relevant to India rather than Himalayan region only. But its really a new thing to learn about the condition of women and their efforts to maintain their livestock. Hope this topic has created an awareness among the professionals to work out something innovative.

Dear Mahesh,
It is an experience to go through your experience and sharing it with us regarding the situation faced by the women in Kumaun Hills. I have a special fascination for the subjects related to livestock development. Thank you so much for your Blog. Hope that in future also, you will highlight us about the issues related with the current situation of farmers in our country.

Dear Sir,
Wonderful expression of one of the key issues in animal agriculture depicted in a poetic manner. Congratulations for participating in the blog competition and best wishes for winning an Ipad. Kudos for bringing twin concerns of drudgery and fodder scarcity to a central stage by a thought provoking blog. Nice selection of photograph, quite unique and is much appreciated.
with best regards,
Mohan.N.H

Respected sir,
Thought provoking analytic recitation of a sustained but strained relationship of common womenfolk in hills of India with their surrounding in the form of their dependency on forest for fodder requirements is eye opener for all of us. It is high time to relook and reorient the plan and schemes by the concerned agency to keep the balanced relation intact. May the outcome of deliberation bring some relief to the women facing hardship in day-to-day life!!!
Raja Ram Singh, IFS,
Agro-Forestry Division,
Tropical Forest Research Institute,
Jabalpur, MP

Dear sir,

nice to read your blog sir…… it is very informative as well as an eye opener.

nice information sir.

Dear Dr Mahesh,
We worked in the Northeastern Hilly Region for last 10 years keeping in view of the fodder scarcity, especially during winter season. Several cuttings of naturally grown grasses / plants or of cultivated grasses during rainy season, almost double the biomass production. Naturally grown grasses / plants in general are untapped during rainy season.
Lopping of the tree fodders during rainy season also might be helpful.

Some suitable methods for preservation of these fodders during rainy season are the keys for alleviating the fodder scarcity during winter. Ensiling fodders in traditional methods, in this heavy rainfall zone is a beat difficult during rainy season.

We are hopeful to offer a complete package for preservation of fodder during rainy season, in near future.

Dear Dr Mahesh
You have raised a most pertinent issue at the time when we are busy in preparing our country report for FAO for Animal Genetic Resources. Scarcity of fodder is going to be a major concern in livestock keeping for India when the growing human population will compete for agricultural land utilization for its own benefits, leading to shrinkage of land under fodder production. Since in our system of livestock rearing, women play a major role by managing them, the issue put forth by you is very important and should be raised with full voice. Go ahead with whatever you have contemplated. All the very best to you.

Fodder, whether green or alternative fodder tree for grazing dairy animals is a matter of great concern specifically in mountains. It is herculean task for the rural female folks getting fodder in hills for the animals to receive small quantity of milk and dung in difficult remote hilly terrain. I have witnessed myself in and around Mukteshwar (Kumaoun) now Uttarakhand, my first posting place as Scientist in ICAR system, women facing difficulty to collect fodder from nearby forest areas spending lot of energy and time. Many NGOs and Govt. agencies are actively involved empowering women in various spheres including fodder and forestry.
Dr Reena Mukherjee

deardr mahesh
agroforestry will help hill women in two aspects as a livelihood & to meet out fodder crunch, nice information

Sir,
Nice information sir… It means a lot if it can be implemented

Sir,
You have raised a crucial issue for discussion and taking action. It is a tragedy that instead of having a huge R&D infrastructure we have done nothing to solve the real life problem. Whatever we, the R&D professionals, do in the name of research and development is nothing but ‘ritual’ which does nothing for genuine cause but add to our career promotion or bio-data. It is a fact. An honest introspection is needed.

Sir,
Nice piece of information…. A very important perspective of agro-forestry has been highlighted in the article… Will definitely be of immense use for the people working at grass root level in the concerned field….

Sir, Very nice concept. will also highlight present status of women in livestock production & management.The blog is very good.

Dr. Mahesh,
Thanks for your thoughtful blog…
Saravanan Raj, CAU

Dear Mahesh,
These are the real facts of hill regions, whether you see in Kumaon/Garwal regions or North-Estern Regions problems are almost similar. These problems are to be resolved by framing and implementing the Govenment policies involving public in participatory system. Points raised by Dr Mehesh are very pertinent and need to be addressed.

Dear Dr.Mahesh,
You have written a thought provoking blog about the problems of hill women of Uttarakhand. The cutting of forests and climatic changes has added to their miseries. The issues raised by you are of real concern to all of us. My students have also conducted researches in the hills of Uttarakhand and highlighted how hill women spent most of their time in collection of fuel wood , fodder and drinking water for consumption. We all should work together and find out viable solution for for developing fodder through Biomass.

Dear Sir,

I was instantly able to attach to the content of the blog, as I also grown up in rural area, of course in totally contrast climate of arid zone of Rajasthan, where feed and fodder scarcity during drought period (frequent in every 2-3 years) leads to loss of significant number of livestock. Though farmers/ livestock rearers try to cope with the situation by adopting various strategies and government departments try to intervene by available technology and resources, but the problem still persists for small/marginal/ landless livestock rearers, who depend mainly on CPRs for livestock grazing and feeds. So, the problem is spread across the agro-climatic zones of nation and it requires localized, situation based interventions for sustainable livelihood of rural masses. Thanks for raising the issue, wish u all the best.

Regards
B L Jangid
Sr. Scientist (Agricultural Extension)
CAZRI, RRS, Pali-Marwar (Rajasthan) 306 401

Its very nice article. These issues are very important in respect of hill women.
Thanks for sharing.

Dear Mahesh Sir,
Read your blog. It is wonderful. I wish you all the success in this competition and in many more such things. You are doing a great service to the extension profession. You have exhorted us to use the modern means of communication for the common good in a very unique way. For me you are the winner. Regards.

Nicely pointed out the problem of hilly area, regarding scarcity of fodder especially during lean period. Si lvi-pasture system, as suggested by you is the only solution. It will work, when a national agroforestry policy is framed, leaving scope for utilizing all degraded land including the community forest areas.

Very meaningful topic.Certainly a lot is required to be done for the benefit of hill women.Points raised in the blog are valid and nice effort to highlight their problems and contributing for the solution.All the best.

Sir, you have raised an important issue related to fodder production and drudgery reduction. Focus on research specifically in this filed is required. You have done lot of work on this issue specially in hill zone.

A realistic and nice paper which earmarks a critical intervention to bring quality life for women folk. All the best Mahesh Sir.

An important topic in the current scenario.Drudgery of women in the hilly areas is vividly narrated.A lot needs to be done in this area at field level. My compliments to the author

Informative article. One of progressive grower on fodder cultivation want to participate in this conference. What will be the possible options as now time is short.

Dear sir
Wonderful effort, as fodder is burning issue not only in temperate region but also in plains. only question is to realize the importance of fodder by farmers and policy makers. Being a fodder extension scientist there are several issues are with me to share with you. We will discuss whenever i get a chance to come IVRI. For further work there can be collaborative programme by IVRI in association with IGFRI.
Excellent idea.

Dr Mahesh Chander has brought forward an age old issue of women in the hills having to scrounge in forests for lopped fodder for their animals. This indeed is central but I would like to know more about fodder and cattle in the hills of Uttarakhand which seem to have different kinds of fodder practices than the hills in what is Himachal Pradesh today.
I have several questions of Dr Chander for he makes no mention of who owns these trees?
What is the nature of rights of the women to the forests?
Elsewhere in the Himalayas the forests are under the control of the Forest Department is that not so in Uttarakhand?
May be the case of the diificulties of women are to do with their rights of access to grassoin the forest floor and if there is no restriction to cutting the grass then the situation may be of one of ‘free-riding or over-using of grass cutting which then means degradation of grass cover which is a phenomenon of a tragedy of the commons;
Therefore it is important to know what the property rights to grass in the open lands and in the forests are.
What about the common pastures of village communities?
What about stubbles of crops grown in terraces?
Then who has the responsibility of planting fodder trees and what is the property right in such land and the fodder leaves growing them? Women cattle holders have problems because they are not central to property rights and to decision making in rural communities. Please could Dr Mahesh Chander specify? I work on issues of common lands and customary law in northern India which is now a published book.
Fodder is a bye product of food cultivation so who owns the land which grows crops and therefore the fodder?

A very important and sensitive topic.

Sir i am very much to see your blog with good matter to all use.

Dear Dr. Chandra,

Why we take in to consideration only fodder trees. Using water storage and drip irrigation from the water sources available during the year cropping intensity can be increase, we can increase grain as well as crop residue availability and fodder production for sustainable animal husbandry.

I have seen during my stay in NRC-Yak from 1994 to 2000 in Arunachal Pradesh people are using indigenous methods of irrigation; using bamboo for different crops. Usually they take two crops per year.

good initiative

Dear Mahesh Sir,
Your blog highlighted the importance of fodder, which is I’m fact the backbone of rural economy .

Dear Mahesh,

Thanks for shining light on this issue. Others have already said enough before me about your sincere effort, so I will say no more. Keep up the good work and may you succeed in your efforts.

Best wishes
Rajeev Arora

Honourable Mahesh sir,
Gr8 contribution sir

The blog gives the situation of fodder -livestock & livelihood in uttarakhand. The five points raised by you can be worked out by taking projects by team of scientist of IVRI and IGFRI. But an integrated Agro-forestry project &Govt schemes with NGO participation in improving sustainable livelihood of hill farmers and their animals is required.

Dr kd pandey ,Rtd.HOD ,IVRI.

Integrated silvi-horti-pastoral project would be viable in that region depending on the well planned landscape based integrated system. Rather than large ruminants, small ruminants should be focussed in that region as women can easily handle small ruminants and also popular trees can be easily used as green source for the livestock. A multi-disciplinary team can chalk out best suitable strategy. Best wishes and hope to have project in similar lines.
Dr.P.K.Pankaj, CRIDA, Hyderabad

Dear Mahesh,

Thanks for your good gesture for shining light on this issue. My others fellow have already said enough before me about your sincere effort, so I will say nothing on this issue. Keep up the good work and may you succeed in your efforts.

With best regards
yours sincerely
Manas Mohan Adhikary

Sir,
This approach need to be replicated in other parts of Himalayan region.
Congratulations in advance.
Dr. R.P. Dwivedi, PS (Agril. Extension), NRCAF, Jhansi

Dear Mahesh Sir,

As usual, your blog too comes right from your years of down to earth, practical experiences of the context. A very crisp and concise presentation of strong thoughts on reality…and this is so typical of you.

regards

Dear Sir,
Really a wonderful piece of work, informative, innovative and topical! The gravity of the issue is clearly reflected by the two women in a fodder tree, who really want to sustain their family. It is definitely a burning issue in the context of climate change and the strategies suggested should surely be translated into action through project formulation and implementation at the farm level. I thank you very much for sharing the novel idea. I wish you good luck and success for addressing the issue in a participatory mode for enabling peace and well being of the hill women.

Dear Sir,
issue raised by your goodself seeks attention and firm promises along with active involvement of youth researchers like us so that our education motives can be materialized and common people be benefited, Pillar of the family, a Lady deserves resources at her hand for which we need to rise and step ahead.
Thank you for raising, sharing, leading and inviting all volunteers for the cause of Safe Future of Land and Mandkind.

Respected Sir
Thanks for through a light on this important issue which is so common every were in our country.
Best wishes

Thanks for your good concept for shining light on this emerging issue. My others fellow have already said enough before me about your sincere work done. Keep up the good work and may you succeed in your efforts.

With best regards
yours sincerely

Thanks for your good gesture for shining light on this issue. My others fellow have already said enough before me about your sincere effort, so I will say nothing on this issue. Keep up the good work and may you succeed in your efforts.

With best regards
yours sincerely

It a very interesting blog, highlighting the long held vie, especially in India, that women folks significantly contribute to the rural agriculture and livestock economy. The blog reinforces the demand to include the women in the decision making process, particularly when it comes to the improvement of livestock and agriculture. The policies framework needs to be emphasized for the improved socioeconomic lives of the rural women sustaining the agriculture and livestock, with their inclusion in the training and skill enhancement in this sector can augment the agriculture and livestock growth and income.

Dear Sir,
Wish you all the very best sir. These type of projects have to be initiated and implemented in all other parts of the country too.

Good for sustainable management of natural resources like, soil, water, vegetation and livestock.

Good blog,best efforts,go ahead with your aim..

Dear Dr Mahesh,

First let me congratulate you for the wonderful, practical work done by you.

My personal opinion is: scientists who are practically oriented, can do a lot of change to mankind in India, where 70% of the people are depended directly or indirectly to farming.

If I can be of any help, do contact me on sanjay744@yahoo.com or 9999662134, living in Gurgaon, a Pilot by profession, for livelihood. Heart lies in rural India, have started a lot of vermiculture units and got farmers independent from expensive chemical fertilizers.

Towards organic farming.

Warm Regards

Sanjay Gupta
Gurgaon

Thousand salutes to your grass root report Sir.
This is the fate of Indian farm-women in 21st century wherein we have so called state of the art institutes and universities and probably very organized NARS but I feel helpless when our scientists instead of working on projects from the grass root level count our excellence for working in out-funded projects which hardly fit in mandate of the farming situations of that area. This is our country wherein water is sold@ Rs. 20 / liter for which production cost is one rupee and milk is sold by the farmers almost at same price for which production cost include about 700 liter of water itself forget other things.
Social research is neglected and social scientists are thought to be third grade individuals with least priorities. On the one hand we don’t want to recognize the importance of physical labour done by women in agriculture and on the second hand we want to solve problem and make India rise.

Dear Sh. Mahesh,

Congraulations on writing this Blog though I could not understand half of the concept !!!

Wish you all the best !!!

Regards, Suresh Wadhwa TaxBulls India Private Limited

Sir,
Congratulations on writing a very good blog on an important aspect.

Dear sir
I am so excited to read your blogspot. It shows the commitment you have for the society especially the rural women. I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.
Byju

Dear, Mahesh
congratulation for highlighting the old age issue of women living in hills.It is very common and her main worry to collect fodder for cattle from trees like Bhimul (Grewia optiva), Banjh (Quercus Sp.) etc. and small bushes, and also make them aware that fast growing grasses can be used as an alternate fodder for cattle instead of taking a risk on climbing on a tree
( at the cost of their life). which also destroy the habitat of many fauna and flora related to that particular tree.

dear Mahesh

It gives me pleasant felling that your picture took me back to my childhood that I spent in my village and I saw women of my village climbing on trees to collect fodder for their cattle that time I did not realize the consequences of cutting a tree and also if they falls down It was only a matter of thrill for me to see them on a tree but today when I seriously think of that, I immediately realize that It was a risk for environment as well as the life of women since then till date.

Dear Sir,
This is indeed a very good and innovative blog.
Thanks very much for sharing.
Regards
Kiran

Dear sir,
it’s true the women of Hills give maximum time to collect fodder for the cattle & do risky job for her family. congratulation for the blog & wish you best of luck.

Congrats, God bless you.

DrAS Rajendiran
Principal Scientist, ICAR
Mannavanur

Very informative and great article

sir regards,
its good and inspiring nice blog. congrats

Dear Sir

It is the fact that women folks are lifeline of hills and dearth of fodder for cattle is a huge problem in these areas. Indeed this is a big issue as it is in fact difficult to grow fodder owing to topography and other related issues of the area. Women folk had to spend a great deal of time and energy to collect fodder. It is irony that despite of so much progress made by us, we have not done anything to solve this problem. I am also of the view that empowerment of women as well as full cooperation and respect by the men is the need of the hour. I convey my deepest regards to Dr.Mahesh for his sincere and thoughtful blog.

Dear Dr. Mahesh,

Really Mind opening contents you have penned down.

Really helpful for fraternities across developing worlds.

Regards

Dayal Singh

Dear Mahesh Sir,

I commend your reflections of the socio-economic situations of women in Uttarakhand. Very thoughtful and will pray for your ideas to be implemented.

Great thoughts Sir.

Dear Sir,
Its really informative.
Best of Luck….

Dr. Biswajit Dutta, Assistant Proessor, CVSc, AAU, Khanapara

Dear Sir,
I am very happy to read your blog which is more informative and more valuable for students and academicians of related field as well as for rural women for nutritional security as well as sustainability which is the need of hour. Diversification and sustainable dev. is required as land is shrinking and requirement or pressure on land is increasing day by day.

Regards

Shashi varma

congrats, really you are doing good work for upliftment of women farming community

Dear Mahesh,
Thanks for informing me about this problem. I appreciate your effort. We all should pay attention to this problem and try to make some contribution.
Gursharn Singh Randhawa
Professor, Department of Biotechnology, IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
Website: http://www.gsrandhawa.in

Sir
You have always been inspiring for all of us. Very happy to see this informative, rich and highly educative blog in the interest of the mankind.
Regards
Rekha Pathak

DEAR DR.MAHESH,
THE NARRATION IS AN IPSO-FACTO EXPERIENCE OF YOURS AND NOW YOU ARE LINKING TO THE WOMEN -DRUDGERY -FODDER. EXCELLENT. DESPITE OUR SEVERAL FYPs FODDER SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN DUE IMPORTANCE. WITHOUT FODDER SECURITY THE SO CALLED FOOD SECURITY, NUTRITION SECURITY &FINANCIAL SECURITY HAS NO RELEVANCE.

BUT WHEN WILL COME AS A POLICY – TO BE PRECISE FODDER INCLUSION OF THE FARMING IN GENERAL & fARM WOMEN IN PARTICULAR.

WITH GOOD WISHES
DR.CHIDANANDA

Sir
Your blog is very informative . You did great job for the sake of farming community . I appreciate you . Thank You.

Excellent efforts for sustainable agroforestry syste.

Excellent efforts for sustainable agroforestry systems.

Your suggestions are very good. But, I am aware that those activities have been done in your part of the world, through the years. In fact, you mentioned that you worked there for 6 years. That the situation of women has remained the same for 30 years is cause for concern. It is indicative of what is happening in much of the developing world; the so-called peasantry trap. This causes natural resource degradation, and is caused by policy, market and institutional failures. Therefore, demographic, economic, technological, political, institutional and cultural factors should be decisively and diligently addressed. For example, cultural practices which ascribe women to second class citizenship should be abolished. Best wishes.

Dear Dr. Chander, fodder and women s participation in livestock is very important. You had rightly discussed in the blog.thanks

Great thinking. Hope for the best

Dear Dr. Chander, really fodder and women s in livestock is vital key. You had absulatelly right discussed in the blog.thanks

congrats

congrats sir ………….

Dear Sir,

Very nice recollection of the memories and connection to the present situation. My memories too are fresh as about how my mother struggled to feed the buffalo and bullocks at the home. The suggestion you have made if brought to practice will go a long way to reduce the burden of women folk. Than you for a nice write up.

Manjunatha L

Dr.Mahesh, You have become just familiar with your blog concerning rural women in respect of the ordeal they have to face in fetching fodder to livestock in their households. Your blog on this issue is a well highlighted concern since you hail from such environments. In practicality, if fodder schemes enriching production are introduced with the latest technology that could be adapted by the villagers, it will be worth your effort to bear the fruit and to some extent alleviate poverty besides a boon to earn their livelihood. Added to this, if some livestock development activities like poultry farming,quail farming,sheep and goat farming are introduced in such remote areas,-the ICAR has several such well known and established schemes-it will be wonderful.
Your blog is well written and timely proposed for the ensuing event. Best of luck.

Dear Sir,

Thanks for sharing your views to give awareness about this and I respect the nature and it’s wonders that do for humans.
You are always suggest to grow the livestock in happy environment (even though we are maintaining them for our table purpose) where we will be healthy by eating that kind meat that grown in happy environment.

Thanks
Udaya.

I am happy to see this important topic.

Good work.
Regards

Sir,
This is very useful information for researcher, policy makers and students as well. Thanks.
Good luck

Dear
It is really a highly motivated work for others too.

Hallo sir, your blogs is too informative about women in central Himalayan region.

Good work. Please keep it up

Great idea

sir,
this is interesting and useful in solving rural problems particularly of himalayan region, keep it up sir, like this bring

sir, your blogs is too informative about women in central Himalayan region. good luck

Dear Sir,
You have written a nice blog. This is a very important ICT application in Extension Education.

Very Nice effort

Keep it up

With best wishes
Dr I M Khan
Professor(Extension Education)
S K N Ag University, Jobner
Distt Jaipur (Rajasthan)-303329
Phone: 09251307654 (M)
01425-254035(O) fax: 01425- 254022
E-mail: imkskn@rediffmail.com,

Blog is nice and informative. keep it up
Congratulate

Dr. Prahalad Singh Tanwar
Depurty Director(Training)
KVK,Barnala
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University,
Ludhiana

Dear Sir,
Kudos to U vis-a-vis this kind of ‘Yeoman Service’ for the cause of ‘Reduction and/or Mitigation of Drudgery among Farm Women’ ! At the same time, I do Wish that your WISH/DREAM to contribute something in this direction … as based on your ‘Own Experiences’ (since Your Childhood) gets fulfilled !!

Thanks a lot for putting up such an informative and useful blog. Great work and wish you all the best.

Sir,
This is a nicely written blog.

Sir
I am Very happy to see this informative and educative blog in the interest of the mankind.
Regards
suman

Very inspiring blog.Very much useful for the society.
Sincerely
Udayan

Useful blog for the benefit of the rural women folks.
Mukherjee R

It is a good and inspiring blog to read.
Sincerely
Bapai

Dear Sir,
hats off to you for penning down the actual scenario of rural women of Uttarakhand. Throughout the text I recalled the moment of my childhood when I used to visit my village, and yes fodder and fuel were the topmost concerns of my aunts and sister-in-laws. They used to get up early, ignoring their wailing baby just to catch up the pace for collecting fodder. Irrespective of their own weight and capacity, they risked their life and body carrying the huge bunch of fodder on their head, still not very much pleased as they knew it would not last longer. Livestock is an integral part of rural hills and their proper care is very much needed for which our women are sweating from tip to toe without any support from the male members of their family.

My uncle lives with his wife and he has refused to go to his sons till he can work. For him fodder is a main concern which abides him by spending time with my aunt or attend any function.

I strongly feel that there is a need for policies intended to make their lives easier through involvement of knowledge and support for fodder cultivation. As well as concerted efforts to breed high yielding and nutritious fodder for hills need to be followed. Hope the condition will improve as your wish is fulfilled. AMEN.

Dear Dr. Mahesh,
I have worked in the area about which you are talking about. Also, conducted researches on gender issues and came to the conclusion that there should be some location specific policy considerations specially for our mothers of food security; the rural women who work for more number of hours than a bullock as quoted by Vandana Shiva. In fact, an RRs of Directorate for women in Agriculture, Bhuvneshwar should be established in Kumaun region of Uttarakhand

The first four interventions would be path breaking provided, they are executed by appropriate entities in a well coordinated manner with as little redundancy as possible. Thus, giving insurance cover should be the task of State govt (keeping the Principle of Subsidiarity in view). The second and third require efforts by premier research institutions/universities in collaboration so that synergies could be utilized. The fourth i.e. training women on improving net productivity of livestock can be effected through the multifarious Self Help Groups working in Uttarakhand. Fortunately many such altruistic groups are active in the state. The final suggestion (Men start appreciating women’s role and share their work) would follow by default if the first four interventions prove successful. People are utility maximizers (and rightly so), thus naturally bound to follow that which maximizes their return.

Congratulations for your splendid effort.

Your sincere work which has benefits for the needy society will always be appriaciated.thanks for your good approach for the society.Your work for this noble cause will always be remembered.Hat’s off to you.

Your efforts and team work will always be remembered.

Sir,
Thank you for sharing such a nice information appreciating women’s role

You have depicted the most burning issue in the current scenario of landless women in livestock rearing. I feel that cattle rearing is mainly for milk, and goat rearing for meat – in India. But there were many myths among policy makers that goat rearing leads to deforestation, and i myself had witnessed that goat rearing was discouraged in areas, where fodder scarcity is existing. May be the fodder scarcity and the issues related requires more micro-management at the species level than as a single problem. The blog has critically discussed the alleviation measures to restore the fodder production and utilization.

Keep it up

excellent initiative

Good to read.

Good work. Please keep it up

sir,

Berseem hay and maize fodder may be the answer.

Dr. Dildeep, Kerala

Good effort Dr Mahesh, Its high time to take action in this direction to reduce the drudgery of women in rural area. Best of Luck.

Sir
I agree with your concern regarding hardships faced by women in hill agriculture. Nice topic and a very nice blog….
All the very best
Regards
Prakash Bhatt

Inspiring blog

Respected Sir,
This is one of the most important issue for the improvement of livestock in hilly and other areas where fodder remains a big challenge for small and marginal farmers. Sir you raised this issue very nicely and put the real situation of fodder condition at hilly areas. Congratulation for writing a good blog.
with regards
Ameer Khan

Great thought.Good blog.

Very inspiring blog Sir.

Great thought.Good to read this blog.

Sir I have first time read this beautiful blog

Sir this is Very informative and thoughtfully written blog

Wow this is good to read, as I am from Bangalore and hardly visited any village.Yes it seems this kind of write up is great.

excellent

Dear Sir,
Thank you sir raising the issues at proper forum. Generally fodder is synonymous to the annual or some what perennial crops (mainly herbs). I think after reading your blog, people perception may be changed that tree has the utmost potentiality to be used as fodder.

WONDERFUL SIR! ALL THE VERY BEST

awesome… interesting work…

Nice thought……could recall my childhood days in Uttaracnchal through your write up…suggestions given at the end is really good…..best wishes

Excellent…

Nice work sir…I wish that you can make farm women a happy with your work

Great effort, Congrats

There is a riddle which has been puzzling for me since quite some time. We are short of fodder and animal feeds and there has not been much change in this shortage since a number of decades now. However, statistics show that milk production has gone up several times during this period. With the feeds & fodders remaining in the same quantity, is it possible to increase the milk production? Is it a cruel kind of joke ?

Great Ideology…..great endeavour…keep it up…

Great Ideology…..great endeavour…keep it up…

Dear Dr Mahesh
Keep it up. We have great expectations from you. Only few people are knowing your intelligence and leadership quality.

GREAT

NIce one sir..

Thanq for giving us such valuable information sir…..
Great work……..

This article is certainly a different and required one that is why people have voted for it.

Respected Sir
Its so informative, Really great efforts ..keep it up

Interesting and thought provoking

informative!

Nicely written and an eye opener….really appreciate your thoughts. .

dear sir i think this is ur first article but its so informative n its great idiology keep it up

Respected sir,
nice written blog and so informative.

Fodder resources from agriculture crop residues and browses and tree forages from forest has a significant role in total feed dry matter and nutrient availability to livestock. An improvement in digestibility of 2% through amalgamation of agro-forestry resources could support an increase in 15% of milk yield in low yielding (avg. 5L/d) hill cows. Nevertheless, the potential of supplementation would have a wide-ranging beneficial effect on overall production performance of livestock by providing energy and protein input besides correcting nutritional deficiencies.

Dear Dr Mahesh,
nice to see your blog and it is very much informative..Best wishes

Nice blog dear

Its really very informative sir and everyone must read this blog to create an interest about the fodder and agriculture which can help our earth and the environment to be safe and dust free.
its really a great information you are providing to the society sir……Keep it up !!!

my best wishes to you and your team.

A great informative and appreciable blog article ………best wishes …..

Good information and present and future thrust area of work for agroforestry and multidiciplinary multiinstitutional and and farm forest conserveters.

Your blog has sensitized scientific community towards a serious problem. I am sure some solution will come out through this exercise… Congratulations and thanks for bring attention on reducing drudgery of women…

Scientifically oriented

Excellent

God has give trees for sustainable supply. It takes very little time to plant to fodder tree. Some kind of ownership will help them to do so

Dear sir,

well written and a very sensitive issue.You rightly acknowledged the hard work of the women.

salute to u sir……raising issue which was highly neglected earlier, hope will attract scientific brain to think off…………