Energy - IUCN

1.5.5. Occupational Level
The survey of socio-economic conditions in Northern Areas show that most of the
people are engaged in agriculture sector but at the same time a farmer has his own
commercial establishment or in some areas a restaurant/hotels, tea stall, video shop
etc.
1.5.6. Cultivated Area
The cultivated area of Northern Areas is very small. About 57,700 hectare of land is
under cultivation of which 46300 hectare are under cereals, 10,000 hectare under
fruit and 1400 hectare under vegetable/potato. The total area therefore under
cultivation is about 0.8% of the total area and exists in patches along the
rivers/streams of various altitude. The people own an average of 124 hectare of
agriculture land. Cereal crops are mostly cultivated. Wheat and barley are the main
staple food crop in certain parts maize is also used for human consumption in place
of wheat. These grain crops are supplemented by sorghum and millet in villages at
higher altitudes.
1.5.7. Livestock
Livestock contributes a great deal to the economy in agrarian society. However,
physical condition and general health of the animals is not satisfactory in the NA,
especially in winter due to the shortage of fodder. Bullocks are the main source of
farm power, but they are hardly capable of drawing plough due to poor health. Cow,
sheep and goats are also lean and thin. Animal diseases cause considerable losses to
the livestock. Productivity of cattle is generally low because of severe winter and
lack of proper feed. Meat, milk butter and eggs are the main animal/poultry
p roducts but most of them are consumed at the household level. At some place milk,
meat animal hides, wool and poultry are sold. Efforts are being made to protect and
p romote the livestock. Some of the major efforts are given as under:
Table 5: Veterinary Hospital and Dispensaries
Veterinary Hospital 2 1
Gilgit Ghizar Diamir Skardu Ghanche
Dispensary 20 11 25 28 6
8
The total livestock in the Northern areas are given in Table 6.
Table 6: Number of Livestock in Northern Areas
Detail of Livestock
Number of Livestock
Cattle 408,056
Buffalo/Yaks 579
Goat 938,897
Sheep 642,643
Camel 90
Horses 2,615
Mules 183
Donkey 18,383
Poultry 252,157