Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-Animal Systems in ...

Table 4. Value of animal products in the two AEZs of Asia (average for 1987–1989).Lowlands Uplands Per cent ofValue Per cent Value Per cent Asia in bothCommodity(US$10 6 ) of Asia (US$10 6 ) of Asia zonesLarge ruminant meat 1884.7 36.7 817.1 15.9 52.6Small ruminant meat 842.7 23.6 349.1 9.8 33.4Milk 1354.7 6.0 4059.1 18.0 24.0Total CGIAR commodities 4082.1 13.1 5225.3 16.7 29.8Pork 9409.6 46.2 2490.7 12.2 58.4Poultry meat 2120.2 51.7 771.4 18.8 70.5Eggs 3368.9 40.7 1270.0 15.4 56.1Total non-CGIAR commodities 14898.7 45.5 4532.1 13.8 59.3Total 18980.8 29.7 9757.4 15.3 45.0Source: TAC (1994).Characteristics of the uplands• The topography is sloping and hilly. In the Philippines, uplands are characterised by slopes of 8–18%(BAR 1989), which is also the definition used in Hunan Province in China.• The environment is fragile and resource degradation is evident. Overgrazing and increasinglydestructive human activities are resulting in the loss of vegetative cover, excessive runoff, increasedsoil erosion, declining soil fertility and decreased agricultural production.• Shifting agriculture is common, whilst in the wetter areas and on slopes perennial tree crops are planted.• The human population density is moderate to high. The people have less access to resources and markets,face greater isolation and instability of production. Farmers are poorer than those in the irrigated areas,and exert considerable pressure on the natural resource base for survival.• Both annual crops (cereals, legumes, roots, vegetables) and perennial tree crops (coconut, oil palm,rubber and fruit) are grown, often without the integration of animals.• Rice yields range from only 0.9 t/ha (Cambodia) to 1.6 t/ha (Indonesia), and are the lowest of the threemain groups of rice varieties (IRRI 1993a).• Lower populations of cattle, goats and sheep are present compared with the irrigated areas and rainfedlowlands. The numbers of native pigs and poultry are high.• Common property use by grazing ruminants is a major problem. In the Mekong countries, movementof cattle and common property grazing is linked to shifting agriculture whilst in the Philippines, it isassociated with the nature of property rights.• The area provides considerable opportunities for diversification of resource use, but specialisation andeconomies of scale are more difficult at the present time.• Equity concerns and increased opportunities for off-farm employment are generally greater than in thelowlands. The latter contributes significantly to total household income.The integration of crops and animals in the rainfed lowlands and uplands provides major challenges forresearch, to include the improved use and management of natural resources and the development ofsustainable, market-orientated production systems.ConclusionsThis chapter has attempted to rationalise the classification of the AEZs by approximating climatic definitions(sub-humid and humid) to those of rice technology (rainfed lowlands and uplands) on the basis of relativesoil moisture stress. Accordingly, for the purpose of this report the sub-humid and humid AEZs will bereferred to as the uplands and lowlands.