GTZ Project Document No. 51 Report on Nahi Baseline Survey

Nahi Baseline Survey April- May 20012.4.3 Importance to the household incomeLivestock is an important component of the farming system in Nahi. Among livestockcattle is the most important animal on the farm for crop production purposes and for theirproducts. The products are an important source of nutrients for the family and animportant source of cash income for some households.The horse on the other hand is an important means of transport for most households.Most commodities going out or coming in are transported by horse and on human back.Considering the scattered settlement of farm households in the valley the horse willcontinue to play an important role in the farming system especially as an important meansof transport for the farmers.2.4.4 Problems in Livestock productionThe labour shortage, unavailability of feed and fodder, wildlife attack on livestock andunavailability of improved breeds are some of the problems expressed by the farmers.Many farmers expressed the shortage of supply of improved cattle breed as a criticalproblem in acquiring improved breeds. Since improved cow breeds are not readilyavailable the Gup and some farmers expressed the need to purchase a good breeding bullby sharing the bull cost among themselves.Some common problems in livestock production are attack on livestock by wild animals,shortage of feed and fodder and labour.At the time of survey the livestock extension services are covered from the Dzongkhagheadquarter due to the untimely demise of the livestock extension person posted in thegeog.2.5 Forest ActivitiesThe geog is virtually covered by forest (90%), which provides a variety of resources thatsupports the agricultural production activities. Therefore, forest is an importantcomponent of the valley’s farming system playing a vital role in the crop and livestockproduction activities. The forest provides a wide range of products or resources like; fuelwood for cooking purposes, fodder and grazing area for cattle, tools, implements andfencing materials for crops, timber for construction, leaf litter for animal bedding,medicinal plants for carrying out local treatment, some wild vegetables, for consumptionand sale, etc.Namgyel (1996) has made a comprehensive presentation of different uses and role of theforest in the valley’s farming system. In his report he has identified a wide range of forestproducts categorised into five different uses; as home use; food and nutrition, for farmuse, medicine and for generating cash income. For example, about 11 different cashgenerating NTFPs have been identified among which included mushroom (about 22species identified), asparagus, ferns, walnut and orchids (cymbidium hookerianum) areconsidered as the most important by some of the households.20