| Participatory
planning is expected to generate a variety of livestock and
rangeland management priorities. Two initial priorities for
PCDP action have already been identified through a combination
of PRA and technical studies: to reduce the incidence of livestock
disease and mortality and so reduce losses to family income;
and to improve rangeland management and so increase productivity.
A possible additional area of activity is the improvement of
livestock quality, which may ultimately lead to community agreements
to reduce stock numbers. The creation of dependence on outside
expertise will be avoided by developing necessary skills within
the community.
Reduction of animal disease and mortality will be achieved
through the training of village-based veterinary workers,
and the training of larger numbers of farmers in animal health
and nutrition, such that their technical knowledge and problem-solving
capabilities are enhanced. The following approach to the training
of village-based veterinary workers has been successful in
the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, which operates in similar
social and physical environments to Palas.
- each village (or cluster of villages) nominates one person
for 1 month's training in livestock diseases and management;
- each village provides a room for the setting up of a dispensary;
- the PCDP provides a one-off grant to equip the dispensary
with an adequate quantity of medicines and vaccines to the
successful trainees;
- the PCDP provides the trained worker with a nominal stipend
for a maximum of 1 year, so that he can establish himself
as his community's veterinary worker;
- trained veterinary workers charge fees for their services,
according to rates fixed by the community organisations;
- the cost of medicines and vaccines recovered from farmers
provides the basis of a revolving fund for further purchases
by the community organisation.
This approach is cost effective because it uses the existing
organisational framework of the Palas community, trains local
people to provide a sustainable veterinary service, and does
not create dependency on a government service.
Improvement of rangeland management is likely to involve
the development of community rotational grazing agreements
and possible exclusion zones to enhance rangeland productivity
and to speed the natural recovery/ regeneration of rangeland
and forest.
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