The arid zones constitute a major part of our territory, remaining unattended so far and the official statistics in this regard and grazing lands are far from complete and often misleading. In fact, the real potentials of these lands have never been assessed. However, some revealing figures have been compiled by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, (PARC).

Out of the total area of 196.7 million acres, 47.S million acres are under cultivation and about 5 million acres are forests. The rest of the 144.2 million acres, forming 73 per cent of the total area lies mostly in arid and semi-arid zones and suffer from acute shortage of water. The difficult food situation may grow worse unless we proceed to harness every little resource to the maximum. In the past, arid zones were kept totally neglected from green revolution. The demand for various feed commodities is 100 per cent rather more than its production. The balance of payments gap has reached an all-time record. Pakistan is thus on the list of the ‘Most Seriously Affected Countries’ (MSA).

Arid lands: Leaving aside deserts of Cholistan measuring about 13000 sq.mile and desert of Tharparker measuring about 450 sq. mile, rest of the arid zone form a continues block covering about 76 per cent of the land areas and is a subject to the wind and water erosion. In the past, these lands have remained the seats of ancient civilizations and pulsating economy. Due to the continuous over-grazing and misuse, deterioration has converted these lands into man-made deserts and rangelands. The productivity of these lands at present is hardly 10-15 per cent of the existing potential.

It is estimated that 50 per cent these areas can be effectively utilized for livestock production only. It is estimated that grazing lands although being in low state of production due to variety of factors, production on these rain- fed areas can be increased by more than 100 per cent by proper range-management. The demonstration through out the entire land showed that livestock production could be increased at more than 50 per cent through proper rangeland livestock management. Discouraging however is fact that though our rangelands are used by the entire community and their improvement is no body’s responsibility. The hilltops are completely exposed and soil erosion is taking place.

Due to the population explosion the stresses have become greater so that the demand of natural resources is magnified. Eventually the consequence is an imbalance between human and animal population on one hand and the plant, water and land resources on the other. As demand by the first is of a persistent and increasing nature, the resources tend to become depleted as depletion proceeds the circumstances’ then become even greater. Though, there is a set into operation of a process of degradation of resources, which accelerated during every dry period and immediate thereafter.

The water and wind erosion, lower the soil fertility, increase water losses and ultimately the production of large areas of waste land cut by deep erosion of barren sand dunes. Which are not only unproductive but may involve considerable expenditure of public money were they encroach on community services, particularly in Chaghi, Kharan and Thai. The range management, forage production and livestock experts have to reverse the process and to rehabilitate the lands. Scientific research undertaken by experts the Arid Zone Research Institute will provide essential facts upon which the wide decision and plans can be based.

Greater emphasis have been made to make this country self-sufficient in food (grain), with all types of assistance to the irrigated areas. It may be mentioned here that grains sufficiency can never be regarded as food sufficiency. Because 50% of our food requirements must come from animal resources which are of high biological values. These arid and semi arid zones can be best utilized for livestock production, which suffer from acute shortage of water and are generally uneven. Usually disallow the production of cereals; oil seed and other cash crops. Needless to mention that the countries like New Zealand and Australia are the largest exporters of food of animal origin and they developed this industry from inherently an arid soil. These countries are known for being most efficient producers in terms of per acre of land, per labour unit and per unit of capital.

The long dry spells reduce the plant growth virtually to nil for considerable period of the year resulting delayed maturity and reduced rate of production. The stockowners increase the size of their herds during the favourable time. The free grazing also encourages them to increase the number of animals. This practice on one hand results in over grazing, while on the other hand they experience heavy losses during subsequent dry spell (declining forage yield have in many cases resulted in reduced livestock production even. Though, actual number of livestock may have increased). The number of surviving animals would be still too many and cause deterioration of land when the land actually needs rest. The development of improved management system has deteriorated by the long-standing traditions.

To control grazing and prevent animal trespassing certain laws has been provided for some parts of the country. These laws however, come in conflict with the traditional system of land use, infringe social customs and are often politically difficult to enforce, as farmers do not give up their immediate benefits to gain ultimate long term profits. However, definite policies have been made to discourage this tendency and to reverse the process of destruction on these lands.

The nomadic system of grazing is a major problem of these areas. The people normally do not own houses and live in tents and they do not care for national and international boundaries. Other than local tribes, ‘powindas’ come from Afghanistan and Azad Kashmir and they make use of spares vegetation. Almost every member of these nomads is fully armed which provide them confidence to make use of spares vegetation. Hence, the ownership of these lands is seldom questioned. These people think that they have to make use of it as long as it offers feed for their animals. The areas which are grazed by the nomadic herds are always over grazed. They do not produce as much as they should, and already a difficult life is made even more insecure. In a way, land used by the nomads is normally a State Domain and thus lead to sense of insecurity and cause destruction of existing facilities. The methods of maintaining the stock population at the level of permanent carrying capacity of the grazing lands however, have still to be involved and accepted. It is therefore, proposed that the lands should be demarcated and the nomadic grazers should be settled.

Water points: During long dry spell the plant, animal and human suffer from shortage of water. The development of new water points for both human and animal use is often politically expedient and certainly essential to the full utilization of land resources. It is, suggested that small dams may be constructed, (for example, in Muslakh Ravage lard rear Quetta a small dam named Canoly Dam has been constructed just with the help of a bulldozer, within 3- A hours time. Marty such dams can be built in that reglue area), new tube wells be installed for spray irrigation, as it is impossible to level the vast tracts of undulating soil for floody irrigation. The water resources urgently need to subsidize heavily particularly in Baluchistan, Cholistan and Tharparker.

Livestock production: Arid lands have remained unattended on simple economic ground, compared with other opportunities. The development of these lands has not been a very attractive investment. But the lack of cognizance on the part men of means coupled with inadequate technical ‘know how’ defective planning and poor marketing system for these areas may have been more important reason for the neglect of these fields. The arid lands can be developed only through proper range and livestock management. The problem exists but has been kept deferred till this day. The allocation of funds of different agricultural sectors on nation-wide basis is produced below.

In the light of these facts, the development of animal husbandry and rangelands is long over due. Furthermore, there is the Agricultural Development Bank, and the Industrial Development, but there is no livestock and range development bank. Though livestock is covered under agriculture, yet the credit available for livestock is very meagre which need more allocations. The subsidy on fertilizer and cattle feed particularly during the dry spell when the rangelands actually need rest, need to be provided to encourage stall feeding (feed lot operations. Beside this, the farmers should be provided adequate marketing facilities.

All the animals adapted to the arid areas have highly developed special mechanism to enable them to survive under such conditions. The camel is supreme in its adaptability having developed, to a marked degree, methods of conserving body water with tolerance of high body water loss without marked diurnal variation in the body temperature, permitting absorption of heat during the daytime and radiation of heat at night. This is why that in spite of its competition with the motorized transport, which has grossly effected its utility as a draft animal, the camel in Baluchistan has particularly registered a remarkable increase. Like camel the sheep and goat has also registered an increase of 20% and 49% respectively. They can also live like camel on the doughtiest desert shrubs and thorns has a high adaptability to browsing.

In spite of the facts that nomads well adapted the adverse environment but the fact remain that they experience heavy losses due to diseases. It has been estimated that for every 10 bovines slaughtered in this country, 18 fall. Anthrax, rinderpest, foot and mouth, haemhorragic septicemia, trypnosomiasis, tick born diseases, endo and acto parasites and senile decay play an important role to inflict heavy losses.

Change in the land use: More land is coming under groundnut, and grains in the arid zones, which assist the process of erosion, which need to be checked through legislation. Approximately 20 - 22 million acres of fodder are sown during Rabi and almost same acreage during Kharif. No increase has been observed during the decade. While the number of livestock is increasing at the rate of 2 per cent per year, thus pressurising the arid lands. In this connection Britain’s policy concerning~use is useful indicator. From 1874 to 1914 change in the land use took place by transferring from grain growing to stock raising. During this, period areas under wheat fell from 3.8 to 1.9 million acres and under barley from 2.5 to 1.9 million acres. While the area under permanent grass increased from 23.7 to 27.4 million acres. During recent years, the area under wheat and barley remained 4 million acres. While under permanent grass, it has been over 31 million acres. The mobility of one lakh acres from crop to livestock, each year is taking place for the last forty years. The thing to note is that the land acreage of Britain is fraction of that of Pakistan. Here it may be mentioned that there are numerous examples of unwise ploughing in some Muslim countries such as Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia etc. The pattern has largely been one of increasing the area planted to rain fed cereals but with little or no resulting increase in country wide yield while on the other hand in 1940, in Turkey 1100 HA of range land carried 140 heads of livestock but by 1967 this had risen to 254 heads and contributing significantly to the national income. Furthermore, the price elasticity of demand for livestock produce is higher than that of other farm products. Therefore, increased production in this sector will have a stabilizing influence upon farm income also. The income expenditure elasticity for livestock products is relatively higher than that of other farm products as can be seen from the following table.

Elasticity of demand: It is an extent to which the quantity purchased changes in response to changing price. If the change in the quantity taken is greater, proportionately, them the change in price the demand for the product is said to be elastic. I” other case, if the change in quantity taken is lesser, proportionately, that” the price change, shell the demand is said lo be inelastic.)

The tilling of land in Potohar and watershed management areas of Mangla, Tarbela and all other dams is common. When summer crops have been harvested and winter crops are yet to be sown on such lands, the tilled soil is open for erosion, particularly during rainy season. Out of the total catchment area of 1300 square mile of Mangla lake, 56% is in occupied Kashmir and hence beyond our reach. It is estimated that if the remaining 44 percent watershed area accessible to Pakistan is properly treated, a silt reduction of 12400-acre feet can be effected per year.