GISdevelopment.net --> Proceedings --> GISDECO --> 2004
Introduction
The verdant Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands popularly known as “Bay Islands,” are situated in the Bay of Bengal spreading in an arch from North to South at a distance of about 1200 Km from the mainland India. The 572 scattered islands are located between 6045'-130 41 'N latitude, 92012', and 93057'E longitude, occupying an area of 8249 km2. Theses islands are also called emerald islands and are widely known for their panoramic beauty, clean environment and unpolluted beaches. This union territory is most remote and geographically isolated part of the India Union and has to support a human population of 356265 (2001 census). Andaman group of islands have 24 inhabited islands and Nicobar group have 12 inhabited islands. Since these islands have variable resources and constraints, an umbrella development programme would be inappropriate and ineffective for the development of Agriculture and livestock production. This paper attempts to analyze livestock production system in Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Materials and methods
Data on livestock cattle, buffalo, goat, pig and poultry population was used for creating a livestock database using MS Access. Additional information of transportation accessibility to nearest district head quarter was also worked out. Secondary data from other sources was obtained and modified to create an island wise database of land use and cropping pattern (Anonymous 2001). A 1:250000 scale map of Andaman and Nicobar islands was used for digitization. The map was divided and grid in the lat- long having four coordinates 92:00:00, 14:00:00, and 94:00:00, 14:00:00, and 92:00:00, 7:00:00, and 94:00:00, 7:00:00. Four extremities of lat long were used as reference points for map registration and digitization of island boundaries and areas. All the 36 inhabited islands were digitized and their area was analyzed and edited for discrepancies. GIS was used in analysis and classification of island resources such as land use pattern, livestock population, and requirement of livestock and poultry products, human population and accessibility to market through thematic maps. On the Basis of human population, livestock products requirements of milk, meat and eggs per annum were worked out using the ICMR recommendation for a balanced human diet (ICMR, 2002). To emphasize requirement of livestock products in human diet an island wise cumulative quantity of animal products was worked out in the form of total livestock product demand (TLPD). Livestock intensification index was developed using parameters such as Cultivable land, total livestock population, human population (Senani et. al. 2004). Data on Total livestock product demand (TLPD) and accessibility to district head quarter were analyzed and classified through GIS. Data was classified in to 4 classes and scores from 0.0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 were given. Livestock intensification index (LII) could be used in deciding suitability of islands for livestock intensification programme. Maximum score possible was 1.0 and minimum 0. SWOT analysis of the inhabited islands was also done to further support decision on strengthening livestock production activities in the islands. Using LDPS2 (FAO, 1997) optimum livestock population number for different islands was also worked out using livestock product demand as the main criteria. Similarly for fulfilling demand of egg and meat modified formulae for optimum number were also worked out. Based on these analysis optimum livestock poultry population and vegetable fodder area and was worked out. Optimum number of cows, poultry birds, and meat animals (buffalo, pig, poultry and goat) was calculated. For this adult body weights of cow, buffalo, pig, goat, male calf and poultry birds were assumed to be 200, 250, 100, 25,70 and 1.5 kg respectively with the carcass yields of 140, 162.5, 70, 17.5,40.6 and 1.1 kg respectively for cow, buffalo, pig, goat and poultry. A relationship was used to interchange meat types from one species to another based on the above assumption:
I buff=1.16 cow=2.32 pig=9.28 goat, 4.00 male calf=147.7 chicken
Based on LII and SWOT analysis final recommendation and development programme for each island was planned.
Results and Discussion
Land use
The total area of Islands is 8249 sq. kms distributed in Andaman (6340 sq. kms) and Nicobar group (1841 sq. kms). Out of a total geographical area of 640800 ha in an estimated area of 59766 ha has so far been cleared of forests for agriculture, plantations and other allied purposes (Anonymous 2004). This constitutes hardly 9.33 % of the total geographical area of the Islands for agriculture and other activities against the hitherto belief that eighty six percent of the total geographical area is under forest and rest is available for human use including agriculture. Out of this 12000 ha is under rice cultivation, 28267 ha under plantation crops including coconut, arecanut rubber etc. and about 10000 ha is available as waste/ fallow land.
Table 1: Land use pattern in various islands
Major land use in the islands is forest which range between 19.83 to 100 percent. Car Nicobar island has 19.83 % area and Narcondum, North Sentinel, Strait island, Peel island, Flat bay, Stewart island, John Lawrence, Aves, East and Interview island have 100% area under forest (Table 1). On the other hand, cultivable area ranges from 0-80.16%. North Andaman, Car Nicobar and Katchal have over 40.05 % area under crops and rests of the islands have cultivable area between 0-19 percent. Out of 36 in habited islands 11 islands have no cultivable land and 14 have less than 10 percent area under cultivation. As such there is no land earmarked for fodder production. Yet livestock largely thrive on grazing alone on fallow land, wasteland, community land or grazing lands in absence of stall-feeding practice.
Cropping patterns
Out of 36 inhabited islands 4 islands viz Curlew, John Lawrence, Peel and North Sentinel have no area under coconut cultivation. Car Nicobar, katchal, South Andaman, Great Nicobar, Middle and North Andaman, Little Andaman have more than 1000 ha under coconut. Car Nicobar has maximum area (9188 ha) and Stewart Island has (0.6 ha) under coconut cultivation. Rest of the islands has less than 100 ha area under coconut cultivation. This area could be used for growing fodders and could support 6 cattle per year on a mixed 1:1 grass legume fodders. Out of 36 islands only 11 islands grow paddy. Paddy is predominantly grown in Andaman group of islands and only North, Middle and South Andaman have more than 1000 ha area under paddy. In Nicobar group paddy is only grown in Great Nicobar in 70 ha area. Similarly fruits are grown only in 11 islands and out of these 9 islands are in Andaman and only 2 are in Nicobar group viz Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar. South Andaman has 2149.5 ha followed by middle Andaman 819 and North Andaman has more than 473 ha under fruits. Similarly 23 islands do not grow any vegetable and surprisingly in Nicobar group of Islands it is only grown in Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar islands (Table 2). North, Middle and south Andaman has highest area under vegetable production. Areca nut is another important crop grown in this region. Area wise distribution of this crop shows that it is grown only in 20 islands. Maximum area under areca nut is in South Andaman 1532.5 ha and minimum 0.1 ha in Flat bay island. Since the cultivation has been banned in many parts of the country other crops may replace this crop in the near future.
Table 2 : Distribution of livestock population under different islands
Livestock and poultry:
Main livestock in these islands are cattle, buffalo, goat, pig, poultry, a few horses and rabbits also (Table 2). Out of 36 islands, 12 islands have no livestock what so ever and another 4 islands have a population less then 200 numbers. The North, South and Middle Andaman have major chunk of livestock in Andaman group of islands and Car Nicobar, Katchal are the centers having more concentration of livestock in Nicobar group of islands (Fig. 1). At the same time cattle, buffalo and goat are the predominant livestock species in Andaman group of islands where as pig and goat are dominant in Nicobar Islands. This distribution clearly points out the food habits of people in the two regions. In Nicobar group the diet of the people is deficient in milk component.
Figure 1: Distribution of livestock in different islands
Livestock density worked out as livestock heads (cow, goat, buffalo and pigs) per unit of land and cultivable land varies between 0-10.1 and 0-127.1 respectively . Highest number of livestock per unit of cultivable land is observed in Trinket island (127.25), Chawra (80.08) in Nicobar district and Long islands (87.87) in Andaman District. There are 12 islands which do not have any livestock mostly in Andaman districts however all the islands in Nicobar have some or other livestock.
Poultry population in this region is predominantly desi i.e non-descript about 80% and only 20 % of the total 8 million poultry birds are high yielding or exotic breeds (Table4). Poultry is mostly concentrated in North Andaman 31.2. Car Nicobar 21.77, south Andaman 20.29 and middle Andaman 10.41 and rest of the islands have less then 10% poultry and seven islands have no poultry birds at all.
Livestock intensification index
Livestock intensification index (LII) could be used for prioritization of livestock intensification activities and before hand knowing suitability of different islands for increased animal husbandry activities. The LII varied from 0-1. Islands having a score close to 1 were resource rich and most suitable for livestock production enhancement activities and islands having a score near to 0 are resource poor and unsuited for intensification activities (Fig 2 ). Out of 36 inhabited islands 15 islands had a score 0 .1-0.25, 9 islands had a score 0.25-0.50 and another 9 islands had a value between 0.5-0.75 and 4 had between 0.75-1.0. On further analysis of the parameters it was found that 9 islands had no cultivable land and hence not suitable for intensification of dairy development. Another 9 islands had no livestock. John Lawrence Island had livestock but no land under cultivation and on the other hand Flat bay had cultivable land but no livestock. This index could be used as an indicator for suitability of an island for intensification of livestock production activity. The index could be helpful in prioritizing livestock intensification and production activities.
Figure 2: Livestock intensification index for different islands
SWOT Analysis
Further analysis of land and livestock resources revealed that in general the islands have unequal distribution of the resources. Forest area ranged from 19-100 percent and cultivable area also ranged from 0-80 percent. In Andaman, East, Interview, Aves, Flat bay, Peel, Stewart, Curlew, Parlob, Strait, North Sentinel islands have a general resource constraints viz meager cultivable land, low human population, low livestock population and low total livestock product demand. As a matter of fact these islands had no strength as far as livestock production is concerned. These islands had a general weakness due to no access to the market on account of poor connectivity and transportation. Nevertheless, these islands because of inhabitation should have a nutritional support system for the human population in the form of livestock and poultry products. There are opportunities for introduction of livestock cattle, goat and poultry in the islands, which have none, and also scaling up the farming activities where it is on a small scale. Earliest introduction of livestock and poultry should be made in East, Interview, Aves, Curlew, Parlob, Strait, and North Sentinel, Narcondam islands. Introduction of livestock and poultry in these islands have a possible threat to the reserve forest which is in no way more serious than the inhabitation decision on the part of local administration. This threat could be eliminated by following good livestock rearing practices, controlled grazing, stall feeding and managing grazing lands.
Where as North, South and Middle Andaman, Long island, Baratang. Havelock, Neil, Rutland, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Chawra, Teresa, Kamorta, Trinket, Katchal, Nancowry. Little Nicobar, Kondul, Pilomilo and Great Nicobar islands have comparatively large area under cultivation and support larger livestock and human populations. Consequently in these islands there is a larger demand of livestock products. As such these islands are more suited for demand driven livestock production scaling up and have got adequate resources for this purpose. There is a need to redeploy resources for the changed livestock production level.
Major weakness for resource rich islands are little or no fallow land, smaller area under crops, hilly land, poorly managed grazing lands, large area under forest, no grazing lands and overexploitation.
Since these islands have a larger livestock product demand there is an opportunity for intensification of livestock farming. In this endeavor some new job opportunities in the rural sector could also be available besides making profits from livestock and crop production activities. As such fodder production, management of grazing resources, livestock and poultry intensification, post harvest operations and marketing of livestock and poultry products would generate additional jobs in the islands. Further in Nicobar group of islands surplus of livestock products and livestock as such could find a market in the near by islands in Nancowry and great Nicobar islands.
Policy initiatives
It is very important to decide policy framework before venturing in to livestock intensification programme. In view of the demand driven livestock development programme the livestock are required to provide food security to the human population in these islands. Accordingly, for each island depending upon the resources, livestock products demand; the introduction or the intensification have to be planned. Optimum number of livestock and poultry has been worked out to meet out the human need for milk, meat and eggs and the same is presented in Table 3. As far as the demand of milk production is to be considered it is not possible to provide milk with existing cows in each islands simply for the reason that average milk production of non-descript cattle is very poor 1.5-2.0 l/d. A harsh and preeminent decision would be on the anvil as how to replace these cows. Local non-descript desi cattle being the poor milk yielder cannot meet out the demand of milk in the islands. There is a need to replace all low producing animals with 5l/d milk producing cow or buffalo so that valuable natural feed resource use is optimized and over a period of time a population of elite animals is available to supply milk demand. If cow is to be preferred over Buffalo on the simple advantage of lower feed requirement then we will have to cull all cows yielding less then 5 liter of milk /d. Setting aside the religious sentiments, cow could be used as beef animals in Nicobar group of islands; where to some extent this practice is going on. In the islands where buffalo are reared low yielding cows needs to be removed in order to economize natural feed resources. In the islands having less than hundred human beings backyard poultry, dairy and goatary could provide valuable animal protein. Japanese quail could be introduced as front yard poultry for egg and meat production in the islands simply for the reason that the birds are small and is prolific egg producer and need little feed and health care.
Table 3: Optimum population to fulfill livestock product demand
Buffalo rearing which is done in peri-urban areas for commercial small-scale dairy would be more suited for milk production, drought and could also be used as meat (veal). In Nicobar group of islands where pigs are the most predominant species: introduction of dairy animals would further add to supply of milk, and beef to the human population. In the smaller islands with small human population and lower livestock product requirements, cow, goat and poultry would be the right combination for human food security. Poultry, goat and pig are the choicest meat animals in these islands. Culled cow and buffalo could also be used as meat animals and this would be the most preferred and viable option to get rid of unproductive and low productive dairy animals. This would also help in introduction of elite animals in new areas and improving average milk production by selection and cross breeding in the existing dairy herds. Culled animals could also be exported as meat and could fetch foreign exchange. For that matter trade links with Phuket (Thailand) are being finalized which may create avenues for animal or animal product exports from this region.
Optimum Livestock and poultry population
In order to support nutritional needs of human population, optimum livestock and poultry populations in each island were worked out. For small islands a having very small human populations (less then 100 human beings in Narcondum. East, Stewart, Curlew, Aves, Interview, Parlob, Strait, Peel, North Sentinel, Flat bay and Viper islands 2-3 cows and 30-500 chicken should be introduced under backyard production system. A suitable area varying from 0.2-0.6 ha should be earmarked for fodder production under rotational grazing system (Table 3). Islands having coconut or areca nut plantation could also be used for growing fodder as well as grazing cattle @ 6 cattle/ ha/ annum. North Andaman should have an optimum population of 9986 cattle, 3305 pigs, 7971 goats and 56503 poultry. Looking at the existing livestock population figures (in the parenthesis) there is a need to change the population structure and replacement of low producing animals with high producing ones. Middle Andaman should have 10398 cattle, 305 pigs, 7971 goats and 68542 poultry layers. In case of Baratang, Havelock, Neil, Rut Land, Little Andaman, South Andaman optimum population of livestock and poultry needs to be maintained from the existing population by selection and replacement of stock.
The case of Nicobar group of islands is entirely different with regards to cattle population, which is invariably small in all the inhabited islands except Katchal, Kamorta, Trinket and Great Nicobar where existing population is higher, then the optimum population suggested. Cow should be introduced in Chowra, Bambooka, Pilimilo and Kondul islands.
On the basis of Livestock intensification index (LII) and SWOT analysis island wise livestock intensification programme was developed (Table 4).
Table 4 : Recommendations for each islands
Conclusion
Lives stock production system was analyzed using GIS and SWOT analysis. Island wise resources were taken in to consideration besides the requirement of livestock products to finally arrive at optimum livestock number and land under fodder for sustaining theses population. Guidelines for livestock intensification have been suggested for increasing livestock production in this region.
Acknowledgements
Authors acknowledge guidance and help rendered during the analysis and preparation of thematic maps by Dr M.N.Reddy and Dr. H.N.Rao, Principal scientists at NAARM, Hyderabad, India
References
GIS Based Analysis of Livestock Production System in Andaman and Nicobar Islands
S. Senani R.B.Rai
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
R.N.Chatterjee
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
Jai Sunder
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
A. Kundu
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
S. Senani R.B.Rai
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
R.N.Chatterjee
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
Jai Sunder
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
A. Kundu
Central Agricultural Research Institute
India
Introduction
The verdant Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands popularly known as “Bay Islands,” are situated in the Bay of Bengal spreading in an arch from North to South at a distance of about 1200 Km from the mainland India. The 572 scattered islands are located between 6045'-130 41 'N latitude, 92012', and 93057'E longitude, occupying an area of 8249 km2. Theses islands are also called emerald islands and are widely known for their panoramic beauty, clean environment and unpolluted beaches. This union territory is most remote and geographically isolated part of the India Union and has to support a human population of 356265 (2001 census). Andaman group of islands have 24 inhabited islands and Nicobar group have 12 inhabited islands. Since these islands have variable resources and constraints, an umbrella development programme would be inappropriate and ineffective for the development of Agriculture and livestock production. This paper attempts to analyze livestock production system in Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Materials and methods
Data on livestock cattle, buffalo, goat, pig and poultry population was used for creating a livestock database using MS Access. Additional information of transportation accessibility to nearest district head quarter was also worked out. Secondary data from other sources was obtained and modified to create an island wise database of land use and cropping pattern (Anonymous 2001). A 1:250000 scale map of Andaman and Nicobar islands was used for digitization. The map was divided and grid in the lat- long having four coordinates 92:00:00, 14:00:00, and 94:00:00, 14:00:00, and 92:00:00, 7:00:00, and 94:00:00, 7:00:00. Four extremities of lat long were used as reference points for map registration and digitization of island boundaries and areas. All the 36 inhabited islands were digitized and their area was analyzed and edited for discrepancies. GIS was used in analysis and classification of island resources such as land use pattern, livestock population, and requirement of livestock and poultry products, human population and accessibility to market through thematic maps. On the Basis of human population, livestock products requirements of milk, meat and eggs per annum were worked out using the ICMR recommendation for a balanced human diet (ICMR, 2002). To emphasize requirement of livestock products in human diet an island wise cumulative quantity of animal products was worked out in the form of total livestock product demand (TLPD). Livestock intensification index was developed using parameters such as Cultivable land, total livestock population, human population (Senani et. al. 2004). Data on Total livestock product demand (TLPD) and accessibility to district head quarter were analyzed and classified through GIS. Data was classified in to 4 classes and scores from 0.0, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 were given. Livestock intensification index (LII) could be used in deciding suitability of islands for livestock intensification programme. Maximum score possible was 1.0 and minimum 0. SWOT analysis of the inhabited islands was also done to further support decision on strengthening livestock production activities in the islands. Using LDPS2 (FAO, 1997) optimum livestock population number for different islands was also worked out using livestock product demand as the main criteria. Similarly for fulfilling demand of egg and meat modified formulae for optimum number were also worked out. Based on these analysis optimum livestock poultry population and vegetable fodder area and was worked out. Optimum number of cows, poultry birds, and meat animals (buffalo, pig, poultry and goat) was calculated. For this adult body weights of cow, buffalo, pig, goat, male calf and poultry birds were assumed to be 200, 250, 100, 25,70 and 1.5 kg respectively with the carcass yields of 140, 162.5, 70, 17.5,40.6 and 1.1 kg respectively for cow, buffalo, pig, goat and poultry. A relationship was used to interchange meat types from one species to another based on the above assumption:
I buff=1.16 cow=2.32 pig=9.28 goat, 4.00 male calf=147.7 chicken
Based on LII and SWOT analysis final recommendation and development programme for each island was planned.
Results and Discussion
Land use
The total area of Islands is 8249 sq. kms distributed in Andaman (6340 sq. kms) and Nicobar group (1841 sq. kms). Out of a total geographical area of 640800 ha in an estimated area of 59766 ha has so far been cleared of forests for agriculture, plantations and other allied purposes (Anonymous 2004). This constitutes hardly 9.33 % of the total geographical area of the Islands for agriculture and other activities against the hitherto belief that eighty six percent of the total geographical area is under forest and rest is available for human use including agriculture. Out of this 12000 ha is under rice cultivation, 28267 ha under plantation crops including coconut, arecanut rubber etc. and about 10000 ha is available as waste/ fallow land.
Cropping patterns
Out of 36 inhabited islands 4 islands viz Curlew, John Lawrence, Peel and North Sentinel have no area under coconut cultivation. Car Nicobar, katchal, South Andaman, Great Nicobar, Middle and North Andaman, Little Andaman have more than 1000 ha under coconut. Car Nicobar has maximum area (9188 ha) and Stewart Island has (0.6 ha) under coconut cultivation. Rest of the islands has less than 100 ha area under coconut cultivation. This area could be used for growing fodders and could support 6 cattle per year on a mixed 1:1 grass legume fodders. Out of 36 islands only 11 islands grow paddy. Paddy is predominantly grown in Andaman group of islands and only North, Middle and South Andaman have more than 1000 ha area under paddy. In Nicobar group paddy is only grown in Great Nicobar in 70 ha area. Similarly fruits are grown only in 11 islands and out of these 9 islands are in Andaman and only 2 are in Nicobar group viz Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar. South Andaman has 2149.5 ha followed by middle Andaman 819 and North Andaman has more than 473 ha under fruits. Similarly 23 islands do not grow any vegetable and surprisingly in Nicobar group of Islands it is only grown in Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar islands (Table 2). North, Middle and south Andaman has highest area under vegetable production. Areca nut is another important crop grown in this region. Area wise distribution of this crop shows that it is grown only in 20 islands. Maximum area under areca nut is in South Andaman 1532.5 ha and minimum 0.1 ha in Flat bay island. Since the cultivation has been banned in many parts of the country other crops may replace this crop in the near future.
Main livestock in these islands are cattle, buffalo, goat, pig, poultry, a few horses and rabbits also (Table 2). Out of 36 islands, 12 islands have no livestock what so ever and another 4 islands have a population less then 200 numbers. The North, South and Middle Andaman have major chunk of livestock in Andaman group of islands and Car Nicobar, Katchal are the centers having more concentration of livestock in Nicobar group of islands (Fig. 1). At the same time cattle, buffalo and goat are the predominant livestock species in Andaman group of islands where as pig and goat are dominant in Nicobar Islands. This distribution clearly points out the food habits of people in the two regions. In Nicobar group the diet of the people is deficient in milk component.
Figure 1: Distribution of livestock in different islands
Livestock density worked out as livestock heads (cow, goat, buffalo and pigs) per unit of land and cultivable land varies between 0-10.1 and 0-127.1 respectively . Highest number of livestock per unit of cultivable land is observed in Trinket island (127.25), Chawra (80.08) in Nicobar district and Long islands (87.87) in Andaman District. There are 12 islands which do not have any livestock mostly in Andaman districts however all the islands in Nicobar have some or other livestock.
Poultry population in this region is predominantly desi i.e non-descript about 80% and only 20 % of the total 8 million poultry birds are high yielding or exotic breeds (Table4). Poultry is mostly concentrated in North Andaman 31.2. Car Nicobar 21.77, south Andaman 20.29 and middle Andaman 10.41 and rest of the islands have less then 10% poultry and seven islands have no poultry birds at all.
Livestock intensification index
Livestock intensification index (LII) could be used for prioritization of livestock intensification activities and before hand knowing suitability of different islands for increased animal husbandry activities. The LII varied from 0-1. Islands having a score close to 1 were resource rich and most suitable for livestock production enhancement activities and islands having a score near to 0 are resource poor and unsuited for intensification activities (Fig 2 ). Out of 36 inhabited islands 15 islands had a score 0 .1-0.25, 9 islands had a score 0.25-0.50 and another 9 islands had a value between 0.5-0.75 and 4 had between 0.75-1.0. On further analysis of the parameters it was found that 9 islands had no cultivable land and hence not suitable for intensification of dairy development. Another 9 islands had no livestock. John Lawrence Island had livestock but no land under cultivation and on the other hand Flat bay had cultivable land but no livestock. This index could be used as an indicator for suitability of an island for intensification of livestock production activity. The index could be helpful in prioritizing livestock intensification and production activities.
Figure 2: Livestock intensification index for different islands
SWOT Analysis
Further analysis of land and livestock resources revealed that in general the islands have unequal distribution of the resources. Forest area ranged from 19-100 percent and cultivable area also ranged from 0-80 percent. In Andaman, East, Interview, Aves, Flat bay, Peel, Stewart, Curlew, Parlob, Strait, North Sentinel islands have a general resource constraints viz meager cultivable land, low human population, low livestock population and low total livestock product demand. As a matter of fact these islands had no strength as far as livestock production is concerned. These islands had a general weakness due to no access to the market on account of poor connectivity and transportation. Nevertheless, these islands because of inhabitation should have a nutritional support system for the human population in the form of livestock and poultry products. There are opportunities for introduction of livestock cattle, goat and poultry in the islands, which have none, and also scaling up the farming activities where it is on a small scale. Earliest introduction of livestock and poultry should be made in East, Interview, Aves, Curlew, Parlob, Strait, and North Sentinel, Narcondam islands. Introduction of livestock and poultry in these islands have a possible threat to the reserve forest which is in no way more serious than the inhabitation decision on the part of local administration. This threat could be eliminated by following good livestock rearing practices, controlled grazing, stall feeding and managing grazing lands.
Where as North, South and Middle Andaman, Long island, Baratang. Havelock, Neil, Rutland, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Chawra, Teresa, Kamorta, Trinket, Katchal, Nancowry. Little Nicobar, Kondul, Pilomilo and Great Nicobar islands have comparatively large area under cultivation and support larger livestock and human populations. Consequently in these islands there is a larger demand of livestock products. As such these islands are more suited for demand driven livestock production scaling up and have got adequate resources for this purpose. There is a need to redeploy resources for the changed livestock production level.
Major weakness for resource rich islands are little or no fallow land, smaller area under crops, hilly land, poorly managed grazing lands, large area under forest, no grazing lands and overexploitation.
Since these islands have a larger livestock product demand there is an opportunity for intensification of livestock farming. In this endeavor some new job opportunities in the rural sector could also be available besides making profits from livestock and crop production activities. As such fodder production, management of grazing resources, livestock and poultry intensification, post harvest operations and marketing of livestock and poultry products would generate additional jobs in the islands. Further in Nicobar group of islands surplus of livestock products and livestock as such could find a market in the near by islands in Nancowry and great Nicobar islands.
Policy initiatives
It is very important to decide policy framework before venturing in to livestock intensification programme. In view of the demand driven livestock development programme the livestock are required to provide food security to the human population in these islands. Accordingly, for each island depending upon the resources, livestock products demand; the introduction or the intensification have to be planned. Optimum number of livestock and poultry has been worked out to meet out the human need for milk, meat and eggs and the same is presented in Table 3. As far as the demand of milk production is to be considered it is not possible to provide milk with existing cows in each islands simply for the reason that average milk production of non-descript cattle is very poor 1.5-2.0 l/d. A harsh and preeminent decision would be on the anvil as how to replace these cows. Local non-descript desi cattle being the poor milk yielder cannot meet out the demand of milk in the islands. There is a need to replace all low producing animals with 5l/d milk producing cow or buffalo so that valuable natural feed resource use is optimized and over a period of time a population of elite animals is available to supply milk demand. If cow is to be preferred over Buffalo on the simple advantage of lower feed requirement then we will have to cull all cows yielding less then 5 liter of milk /d. Setting aside the religious sentiments, cow could be used as beef animals in Nicobar group of islands; where to some extent this practice is going on. In the islands where buffalo are reared low yielding cows needs to be removed in order to economize natural feed resources. In the islands having less than hundred human beings backyard poultry, dairy and goatary could provide valuable animal protein. Japanese quail could be introduced as front yard poultry for egg and meat production in the islands simply for the reason that the birds are small and is prolific egg producer and need little feed and health care.
Optimum Livestock and poultry population
In order to support nutritional needs of human population, optimum livestock and poultry populations in each island were worked out. For small islands a having very small human populations (less then 100 human beings in Narcondum. East, Stewart, Curlew, Aves, Interview, Parlob, Strait, Peel, North Sentinel, Flat bay and Viper islands 2-3 cows and 30-500 chicken should be introduced under backyard production system. A suitable area varying from 0.2-0.6 ha should be earmarked for fodder production under rotational grazing system (Table 3). Islands having coconut or areca nut plantation could also be used for growing fodder as well as grazing cattle @ 6 cattle/ ha/ annum. North Andaman should have an optimum population of 9986 cattle, 3305 pigs, 7971 goats and 56503 poultry. Looking at the existing livestock population figures (in the parenthesis) there is a need to change the population structure and replacement of low producing animals with high producing ones. Middle Andaman should have 10398 cattle, 305 pigs, 7971 goats and 68542 poultry layers. In case of Baratang, Havelock, Neil, Rut Land, Little Andaman, South Andaman optimum population of livestock and poultry needs to be maintained from the existing population by selection and replacement of stock.
The case of Nicobar group of islands is entirely different with regards to cattle population, which is invariably small in all the inhabited islands except Katchal, Kamorta, Trinket and Great Nicobar where existing population is higher, then the optimum population suggested. Cow should be introduced in Chowra, Bambooka, Pilimilo and Kondul islands.
On the basis of Livestock intensification index (LII) and SWOT analysis island wise livestock intensification programme was developed (Table 4).
Lives stock production system was analyzed using GIS and SWOT analysis. Island wise resources were taken in to consideration besides the requirement of livestock products to finally arrive at optimum livestock number and land under fodder for sustaining theses population. Guidelines for livestock intensification have been suggested for increasing livestock production in this region.
Acknowledgements
Authors acknowledge guidance and help rendered during the analysis and preparation of thematic maps by Dr M.N.Reddy and Dr. H.N.Rao, Principal scientists at NAARM, Hyderabad, India
References
- Anonymous. (2001). Basic Statistics on line. Current data. Andaman Nicobar Administration Port Blair.
- ICMR. (2002). Tenth Five Year plan 2003-2007. ICMR Dietary Guidelines for Indians. In Chapter 3.3 Food And Nutrition Security. Indian Council Of Medical Research, New Delhi.pp320
- Anonymous. (2004). A Land Utilization at a glance Andaman Nicobar Administration, Port Blair
- FAO. (1997). LDPS2 user’s guide. Animal production and health Division, Food And Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy,pp77
- Senani, S, Rai, R.B., Jai Sunder, Chatterjee, R.N. and Kundu, A. (2004). Resource mapping and development of livestock intensification index for Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In MAP INDIA 2004. Abs 120.