Socio-economic evaluation of the herders practicing agro-grazing in district Bahawalpur, Pakistan

The herders/respondents involve in agro-grazing were 95% were landless having their own herders and 91% illiterate. Average size of the family was 8 and average annual income from animals of the livestock was 54830.0 PKR. Agro-grazing was their major occupation and they graze their animals mainly on farmlands and on natural vegetation growing along railway-line, canal side and road side. They grazed their livestock average 8.5 hours daily. Lack of nutritious forage and non-cooperative attitude of local farmers and Forest/Irrigation Departments were the major grazing problems of all the herders. The agro-grazing in the district can be promoted if the problems of the herders are solved. The herders demanded and average amount of the rupees (61525 PKR) as long for mainly for the purchase of livestock. Bahawalpur district has an area of 1632670 Acres excluding Cholistan in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. Area under Kharif and Rabi fodder crops were 68800 and 40300 Acres respectively. Bahawalpur district has variety of land which is best suited for Agriculture and farmers hardly keep good land as follow / blank. Only the low potential land of the district is made available for livestock grazing. Keeping in view the importance of agro-grazing, the study was conducted in district with the objective to evaluate the socio-economic conditions of local herders, practicing agro-grazing at different locations and also to sort out the problems faced during the practice.