Improvement of Livestock Production in Crop-Animal Systems in Rainfed Agro-ecological Zones of

109 Pages·1998·0.61 MB·English

Improvement of Livestock
Production in Crop–Animal
Systems in Rainfed Agro-
ecological Zones of
South-East Asia
C. Devendra, D. Thomas, M.A. Jabbar and H.Kudo
International Livestock Research Institute
Affiliation of Authors:
Dr C.Devendra –InternationalLivestockResearch Institute
P.O. Box30709,Nairobi,Kenya
Dr D. Thomas – Natural Resources Institute,Central Avenue
ChathamMaritime,KentME44TB
United Kingdom
Dr. M.A.Jabbar – International Livestock ResearchInstitute
P.O.Box5689,Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
Dr H. Kudo – NationalInstituteof Animal Industry
TsukubaNorin-Kenkyu-Danchi
P.O.Box5, Ibaraka305,Japan
ISBN92–9146–031–1
Correct citation: Devendra C., Thomas D. , Jabbar M.A. and Kudo H. 1997. Improvement of Livestock
ProductioninCrop–AnimalSystemsinRainfedAgro-ecologicalZonesofSouth-EastAsia.
ILRI (International Livestock ResearchInstitute),Nairobi,Kenya. 116pp.
Table of Contents
List of Tables
Preface
Acknowledgements
Executive summary
1.Background
Introduction
Thesetting
Objectivesof the assessment
Thestudyprocess
Studyoutput
2.Characterisation andimportanceof agro-ecological zonesinSouth-EastAsia
Introduction
Characterisationoftheagro-ecological zones
Rainfedfarmingsystemsin the agro-ecologicalzones
Characteristicsofthelowlands
Characteristicsoftheuplands
Conclusions
3.Characterisation of farming systemsandreviewof research
Introduction
Cropping systems
Animalproductionsystems
Crop–animal interactions
Benefitsof crop–animal interactions
Overviewof research
Conclusions
4.Fieldassessment ofcrop–animalsystems
Introduction
Environment andcropping systems
Animalproductionsystems
Feedresourcesandfeedingsystems
Animalhealth anddiseases
Socio-economicaspectsandpolicy
Institutions andresearch capacity
Conclusions
5.Keyresearchable issuesin crop–animal systems
Conclusions
iii
6.Strategyfor research
Justificationfor research
Guidingprinciples
Projectsustainability
Priorityproduction systems
Priorityresearchable areas
Privatesectorparticipation
Opportunitiesfor ILRI
7.Conclusions andrecommendations
Projects
Researchableareas
Resourcerequirements
Role of ILRI
References
Rainfedanimalagriculture innine countries
Cambodia
China
Indonesia
LaoPDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
ThePhilippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Itinerary
Listof personsmet
Listof acronyms
iv
List of Tables
Table 1. Animalpopulationsand meat productionin South-EastAsia
Table 2. Importanceofrainfed agriculture inSouth-EastAsia
Table 3. Humanandanimalpopulations,food demandandland usein the twoAEZsof Asia
Table 4. Valueof animalproducts inthe twoAEZsof Asia(averagefor 1987–1989)
Table 5. Rice-growing environments(non-irrigated) in Asia:importance,constraints,varieties
andchallenges
Table 6. Importantcropsandcropping patternsin farmingsystemsin the rainfed lowland
anduplands
Table 7. Main crop–animalinteractions inmixedfarming systems
Table 8. Some examplesof crop–animal interactionsin South-EastAsia
Table 9. Summaryof financialbenefits fromexperimentalsmallholdercrop–animal systems
inthe ASEANsub-region
Table 10. Summaryof themainsocio-economicconstraintstosmallfarmersin crop–animal
systemsinthe ASEANcountries
Table 11. Institutions andorganisational structuresin South-EastAsia
Table 12. Situational analysisof crop–animal systemsinthe lowlandsand uplands
Table 13. Prioritiesfor research andtraining bysub-regionin South-EastAsia
Table A1.Important diseasesof animalsinCambodia
Table A2.Net incomeandexpendituresoffarmersusingtraditionalandimproved crop–animal
systemsonSumatera(1992–1994)
Table A3.Characterisation of crop–animal farmingsystemsin the Philippines
Table A4.Interventionsin crop–animalsystemsin thePhilippines
Table A5.Summaryof policies/issuesaffectingsmallholdercrop–animalproductionsystem
inthe Philippines
Table A6.Someanimaldiseasesreportedin Vietnam
v
Preface
During thelastdecade,theSouth-EastAsianregionhasmade spectacularandconsistenteconomicgrowth,
withincreasesingrossdomesticproduct(GDP)of4–9%,atrendwhichislikelytocontinuetobestrong.
Livestockcontribute6–20%oftheagriculturalGDPinindividualcountries,anditissignificantthatsome
43–88% of thehumanpopulationaredependent onagriculture for their welfare.
Theimplications of thesedynamicchangesareincreasedaffluence,changing consumerpreferences,
urbanisationandincreaseddemand foranimalproteinsincircumstanceswherethedemand forthesearefar
inexcessofsupplies,andthisgapwillwidenfurther.Thus,thepotentialroleandproductivityfromlivestock
isgoingtobemuchmoreimportant inthe future.
Inorder torespond tothesechanges,defineprogrammedevelopmentmore preciselyand buildonthe
regionalconsultationsthathavebeenpreviouslyheld,ILRIundertookanassessmentofresearchpriorities
forlivestockproductionincrop-animalsystemsintherainfedagro-ecologicalzonesofSouth-EastAsia.This
isespeciallyjustifiedbythepresenceof51%ofthecattleand55%ofthesmallruminantpopulationsasa
percentage of total individual populations in Asia being found here, and significant opportunities for
increasingagriculturalproductivityfromthesesameareas.Thestudyinvolvedcountriesin threesub-regions:
theAssociationof South-EastAsianNations (ASEAN;Indonesia,Malaysia,thePhilippinesandThailand),
theMekong countries(Cambodia,LaoPDR,MyanmarandVietnam)andSouth China.
This publication presentsthe resultsof this assessment.The work wasundertaken by ateamof four
people: Dr C. Devendra (Malaysia), who was also the team leader,Dr D. Thomas (United Kingdom),Dr
M.A. Jabbar(Bangladesh) and Dr H. Kudo (Japan).Drs Devendra and Thomas visited all ninecountries,
whileDrKudovisitedtheASEAN countries, CambodiaandVietnam,and Dr Jabbarvisited Chinaandthe
Philippines.Theirvaluable contributionto thispublicationisacknowledged,asalsoisthefinancial support
forthestudyprovidedbytheGovernmentofJapan,andthecontributionfromtheDepartmentforInternational
Development(DFID,formerlyODA),United Kingdom.
TheassessmentofresearchprioritiesandopportunitiesforILRItoincreasetheroleandcontribution
fromlivestockinSouth-EastAsiainthepublicationisessentialreadingforallthoseinterestedinsustainable
agriculturein the region.Ihope that readerswill find this publicationof muchinterest.
DrH.Fitzhugh
DirectorGeneral
vii
Acknowledgements
The InternationalLivestockResearchInstitute (ILRI) andthe authors ofthisreportgratefullyacknowledge
thefinancialassistanceoftheGovernmentofJapan,andthecontributionoftheDepartmentforInternational
Development(DFID,formerlyODA),UnitedKingdom,infinanciallysupportingtheparticipationofoneof
theauthors(D.T.).SpecialthanksareduetotheDirector-GeneralandstaffoftheInternationalRiceResearch
Institute(IRRI),LosBaños, thePhilippines, whoprovidedthefacilitiesfortheinitialliteraturereview,the
preparationofthefinal document,andexcellentsupportthroughoutthedurationof themission.During our
visitstotheninecountrieswewerehelpedbymanyindividualsandorganisations.Inthiscontext,particular
recognitionandgratitudeisgiventotheoutreachprogrammesofIRRIinCambodia,LaoPDRandMyanmar;
to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development
(PCARRD); the Agency for Agricultural Development/Central Research Institute for Food Crops
(AARD/CRIFC), Indonesia; the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI),
Malaysia;theUniversitiesofKasetsartandKhonKaen,Thailand;theInstituteofAgriculturalSciencesof
SouthVietnam(IAS)andNationalInstituteofAnimalHusbandry(NIAH),Vietnam;theForagesforSmall-
holders Project, Lao PDR; the Ministry of Livestock Breeding and Fisheries, Myanmar; and the Chinese
Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing, the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science in
ChangshaandtheChineseAcademyofTropicalAgriculturalSciences(CATAS)inHaikou,China.Alistof
theinstitutionsvisitedandpersonsmetisgiveninAppendixIII.Finally,thecontributionofDr.L.Cabanilla
(thePhilippines)to thisreportismuchappreciated.
viii
Executive summary
1. TheSouth-EastAsianregionhasmadespectaculareconomicgrowthwithincreasesinGrossDomestic
Product (GDP)of4–9%over the last fewyears.Agriculture isthemajorcontributortothe GDP,and
43–88%ofthehumanpopulationaredependentonagriculturefortheirwelfare.Livestockcontribute
6–20% of the agricultural GDP in the individual countries and play an important and varied socio-
economicrole.
2. Agriculture tends to emphasise crop production, notably rice, based on high inputs and intensive
systems,resultinginenormousbenefitsthroughthe‘GreenRevolution’.Thefocusoncropproduction
hasbeenmainlyintheover-populatedirrigatedareaswhicharealreadyusedintensively.Tofurther
increase crop production, emphasis needs to be given to the neglected lowland and upland agro-
ecological zones (AEZs). In this context, advantage can be taken of the significant populations of
animalson mixedfarmstoenhancethe sustainabilityof the food cropsystems.
3. InAsia,51%ofthecattleand55%ofthesmallruminantsarefoundinthetargetAEZs.Similardataon
buffaloesandnon-ruminantanimalsarenotavailable;thesepopulationsareundoubtedlysizeable.The
needtoincreaseanimalproductivityishighlightedbythefactthattheSouth-EastAsianregionasawhole
hasadeficitinanimalproteinsupplies,notably beef,milk,goatmeatandmutton.Mostgovernmentsin
theregion,therefore,havegivenprioritytothedevelopmentofruminantproduction.Risingpopulations,
higherincomes,urbanisationandchangingconsumerpreferenceswillfuelincreaseddemandforanimal
products.Thecurrenturbandemandismainlymetbythecommercialpigandpoultryindustries,butthe
smallholdermixedfarmingsystems,whereover95%oftheanimals arefound,willbeexpectedinthe
futuretoincreasesuppliesprincipallyfromintensificationandspecialisation.
4. Rainfedagricultureintheregionischaracterisedbydiverseformsofproductionsystems.Sincericeis
themajor foodcropinSouth-EastAsia,rice-basedsystemsarethemostimportant.Othersystemsare
associated with maize, cassava and perennial tree crops. Both monoculture and multiple-cropping
systemsarecommonwithcropsbeinggrownforsubsistenceandcash.Animalproductionsystemsare
classifiedintoextensivegrazingsystems,thosecombiningarablecroppingwithpastures,andsystems
integratedwithperennialtreecrops.Ruminants,non-ruminantsandfish,indifferentcombinations,are
found in these systems. Significant crop–animal interactions occur in the rainfed farming systems.
Animalsprovidedraftpowerandmanureforcropping,controlweedsinperennialtreecropsandutilise
residuesandby-productsfromcropping systems.
5. MajorresearchanddevelopmentopportunitiesexisttoincreaseproductivityfromtheseAEZs,improve
thelivelihoodsofpoorruralpeopleandfoodsecurity,andaddressconcernsofequityandenvironmental
protection.Inordertoprovideasharperfocusontheresearchprioritiesandprogrammesforlivestock
improvement in the lowlands and uplands of South-EastAsia,the International Livestock Research
Institute(ILRI)proposedadetailedassessmentofthe researchand development needs to addressthe
major constraints. This approach would also help establish linkages with the national agricultural
researchsystems(NARS),andidentifytheopportunitiesforcollaborativeresearchtoincreaselivestock
productivityin crop–animalsystems.
6. TheassessmentwasundertakeninCambodia,China,Indonesia,theLaoPeoplesDemocraticRepublic
(LaoPDR),Malaysia,Myanmar,thePhilippines,ThailandandVietnam.Forconvenienceinthereport,
China(withparticularfocus onSouthChina)is includedinSouth-EastAsia,andthethreesub-regions
are referred to as the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Thailand), the Mekong countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam) and South
China.
7. Theresultsoftheassessmentofcrop–animalsystemsintherainfedAEZsare presented.Research to
improvelivestockproductionhasbeenprioritised,basedonadetailedcharacterisationoftherainfed
lowlands and uplands, an extensive review of the literature, observations and discussions in nine
countries,andthecollationandanalysesofresults.Thestudy hasidentifiedthemajorconstraints;the
1
research opportunities appropriate to ILRI, NARS and others; organisational structures in national
institutionsandresearch capacity.
8. TheAEZshavebeenclassifiedbyapproximatingclimaticdefinitions(sub-humidandhumidtropics
andsub-tropics)tothoseofricetechnology(rainfedlowlandsanduplands)onthebasisofrelativesoil
moisturestress.ThelowlandsapproximatetothehumidAEZsandtheuplandstothesub-humidAEZs.
ThecooltropicsofthehighlandAEZsareexcluded.ThecharacteristicsofthetwoAEZsaredescribed.
9. Reviewoftheliteratureindicatedthattherewasapaucityofinformationonfarmingsystemsresearch
thatincorporatesanimalsinteractivelywithcroppingsystems.However, limitedevidencefromeight
long-termcasestudiesindicatedgoodprospectsforthedevelopmentofmoresustainablecrop–animal
systems.Methodologiesforanalysisofcrop–animalsystemsweregenerallyweak,andlittleworkhas
been conducted on socio-economics and policy. Research on component technologies emphasising
animalnutritionwasverycommon.Themostimportantconstraintsinproductionsystemswerefeed
resourcesandnutrition,andanimal health.
10. A wide range of feed resources that include native grasslands, improved forages, crop residues,
agro-industrial by-products (AIBP) and various non-conventional feed resources (NCFR) are
potentiallyavailable.Verylittleworkhasbeenconductedonthesynchronisationofthevariousfeed
optionswiththenutritionalrequirementsofanimalsthroughouttheyear.Awiderangeofimproved
grassesandherbaceouslegumeshavebeenevaluatedandselectedforSouth-EastAsiainthelast25
years, but there is little adoption outside the more intensive dairy production systems in peri-urban
locations. Studies with multipurpose trees have tended to emphasise only one species, Leucaena
leucocephala.Psylliddamagetothis specieshas providedopportunitiesforthe evaluationand useof
awider rangeof multipurposetreegermplasm.
11. The field visits confirmed that the two most important production systems were annual food crops
integrated with ruminants/non-ruminants, and perennial tree crops integrated with ruminants. Feed
resourcesandnutritionagainemergedasthemajortechnicalconstraintsassociatedwithinefficientfeeding
systems.Foreachspecies,themaindiseaseswereessentiallythesameinallninecountries.However,
animalhealthproblemsweremoresevereintheMekongcountriesthanintheASEANsub-regiondueto
poor diagnosis and weak delivery systems, and were important limitations to production. There was
considerable evidence that indigenous breeds possess important traits for environmental adaptation,
particularly disease resistance. However, there has been little concerted use of these native breeds.
Socio-economicstudiesonmixedfarmingsystemsintheMekongcountrieswereessentiallynon-existent.
12. The literature review and country visits enabled key researchable issues to be identified through a
situationalanalysisand,onthe basisof this,prioritysettingforresearchandtraining wasundertaken.
Priorityresearchissuesweregroupedinto sixinterrelatedareas;namely,feedresourcesandruminant
nutrition,livestockandtheenvironment,animalgeneticresources,animalhealthanddiseases,systems
analysisandsocio-economicsandpolicy.Theseventhareawasinstitutionbuildingtoincludetraining
and information.
13. Research capacity varied from good in the ASEAN sub-region and South China to minimal in the
Mekongcountries.Strengtheningthisthroughappropriatetrainingwillalsobeanimportantmeansof
promotinginterdisciplinaryresearchtoaddress theproblems incrop–animalsystemsinthelowlands
and uplandsof the region.
14. Finally,the reportrecommendsthataminimumof four internationalscientistsshouldbebasedinthe
region,twointheASEANsub-region(thePhilippines)andtwointheMekongcountries(LaoPDRor
Vietnam).Theteamshouldconsistoftwoanimalnutritionists,onesocio-economistandonenatural
resource management specialist with broad experience across the soil–plant–animal interfaces.
Scientistswillformulateandimplementresearchworkinthecountrieswheretheyarebasedandhave
sub-regional and regional responsibilities. The team in the ASEAN sub-region will address
researchableissuesofintegrationofanimalsintoperennialtreecropsystems.TheteamintheMekong
countrieswilldealwithresearchableissuesofanimalintegrationintoannualfoodcropsystems.Itwill
beimportantforILRItodevelopclosecollaborationandpartnershipswithNARSandtheprivatesector.
Above all,ILRIwill needto provide leadershipin livestockresearchin South-EastAsia.
2
1. Background
Introduction
TheInternationalLivestockResearch Institute(ILRI)has aglobalmandatetoprovideleadershipinanimal
agriculture on behalf of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The
definitionofthisglobal agendainvolvesthedevelopmentofappropriateresearchprogrammesforlivestock
improvementinpriorityagro-ecologicalzones(AEZs). Thistaskwasfacilitatedbyaregionalconsultation
process,andidentificationoftherequirementsforlivestockresearchinthedifferentregionsofAsia, Latin
AmericaandtheCaribbean,WestAsiaandNorthAfrica,andsub-Saharan Africa(GardinerandDevendra
1995).Inordertoprovideasharperfocusontheresearchprioritiesandprogrammes,ILRIproposedadetailed
assessment of the research and development needs that would lead to the formulation of proposals for
livestockimprovementinSouth-EastAsia(DevendraandGardiner1995).Thiswouldalsohelptoestablish
linkageswiththenationalagriculturalresearchsystems(NARS),andidentifythecomparativeadvantages
of each to address priority researchable issues that are major constraints to livestock improvement in
crop–animalsystems.Thisassessmentcomplements a broaderstudybyILRIandtheAustralianCentre for
InternationalAgriculturalResearch(ACIAR)onlivestocktrendsandresearchoptionsforanimalagriculture
inAsia.
The setting
TheSouth-EastAsianregionhasachievedspectaculareconomicgrowth,withincreasesingrossdomestic
product(GDP)of4–9%overthelastfewyears. Theregionhasseen politicalmaturityintheASEAN,and
animprovementinpoliticalstabilityintheMekongcountries.AgricultureisamajorcontributortototalGDP,
and43–88%ofthehumanpopulationintheregiondependonthissectorfortheirlivelihood.Livestockin
the individual countries contributes 6–20% to agricultural GDP, and play an important and varied
socio-economicrole. In the Mekong countries and China there has been a shift from centrallyplanned to
open-market economies.
About95%ofthedomesticanimalsinSouth-EastAsiaarefoundonsmallresource-poorfarmsinrainfed
areas,wheretheyareassociatedwithcropping.Table1showstheanimalpopulationsinSouth-EastAsia.
Significantnumbersofruminantsandnon-ruminantsarekeptintheregion.Buffaloes,mainlyoftheswamp
type, are found in the rice-growing areasand are used for draft purposes and meat production. Cattle are
mainlydual-purpose,producingbothmeatandmilk.Goats aremorewidespreadthansheepthroughoutthe
region.Amongstnon-ruminants,thepopulationsofchickenarethelargestfollowedbythoseofducksand
pigs.Commercialproductionsystemsfornon-ruminantsareefficient,intensiveoperationsthatareassociated
with the successful transfer of developed-country technology. These systems rely on purchased feeds,
improvedbreeds,diseasecontrolandgoodmarketopportunities.Ducks,however,remaintobedeveloped
moreintensively. Chickenhaverecordedthehighestaverageannualgrowthrates inrecentyears.Allother
species,with theexception of buffaloes,recordedannual growthratesof 2.5–4.3%(FAO1994a).
Risinghumanpopulationsandincome-drivenchangesinfoodhabitswillnecessitateatwo-tothree-fold
increase in the supplies of meat, milk and eggs by the year 2010 (Table 1). In response to the increased
demand, animal numbersandoutputareprojectedto grow atarapid rate.Thiswill createcompetitionwith
cropproductionforresourcessuchaslandandlabour,giventhatfarmsarealreadyverysmall.Intensification,
specialisation and greater sustainability of animal production systems in a changing socio-economic
environmentareanticipated in thefuture.
Agriculturehastendedtoemphasisecropproduction,notablyrice,basedonhighinputsandintensive
systems, resulting in enormousbenefitsthrough the‘Green Revolution’. Thefocushas been mainly on
the over-populated irrigated areas which are experiencing declining yields. To further increase food
production attention must now be given to the neglected rainfed lowland and upland AEZs, justified
further by the relatively large human and animal populations in these areas. There are considerable
3