Herd Management Practices Related to the Five Freedoms in Integrated Cattle Farming System of Some Villages in Bhutan

Abstract

This study draws on prior literature to investigate the risks that climate change poses to Bhutan and how agricultural diversification may alleviate many of these potential detriments. A broad understanding of crop diversification is found to be crucial to the future of Bhutanese agriculture. Using cross-sectional data gathered from a sample of 163 farmers located in the Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhags of central-western Bhutan, this study aimed to understand current crop selection and farmers' perceptions pertaining to crop choice and climate change. Additionally, four measures of inter-and intra-crop diversification are employed to gain an understanding of richness and relative abundance for both crop species and rice varieties. It was found that there is a clear misalignment between what vegetable, fruit, and rice varieties are most prevalent and what generates the most income based on land use. Crop richness is found to be high, but relative abundance is quite low. Combined with farmers' recognition that climate change, water scarcity, and income generation potential are major factors influencing crop choice, opportunities to promote certain high-value and less water-intensive crops are identified. Encouraging land reallocation for such crops will act to increase diversification, rural incomes, and climate resilience.

Current Status and Conservation Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources in Bhutan

“…The sheep are named after the areas they are found Jakar type, Sakten type, Sipsoo Type, and Sarpang type (Table 8). They are adapted to harsh and rugged terrains of Bhutan [49]. The sheep found in Wangdue, Trongsa, and Bumthang are similar and smaller in size, whereas sheep found in Sakten are bigger.…”

“…Moreover, breeding rams are produced in the same flock. Due to inbreeding, there is low fertility, low prolificacy, and low resistance to diseases [49]. The reproductive performance of the sheep is provided in Table 9.…”

“…The reproductive performance of the sheep is provided in Table 9. Domestic sheep are at risk as farmers abandon sheep husbandry practices that are no longer economically viable [49,52]. Farmers are also looking for alternative sources of revenue.…”

“…In general, farmers are hesitant to raise animals. Farmers in Bhutan, for example, are rapidly abandoning sheep farming owing to declining economic returns, impacting the breeding of Jakar sheep, which are endemic to central Bhutan [49,50]. Ministry of Agriculture and Forest (MoAF) has responded by launching a participatory Jakar sheep breeding initiative in Phobjikha, central Bhutan, with the goal of encouraging Jakar sheep owners to continue farming sheep.…”