Surendra Wagle

Achhami Cattle Conservation Awareness Project (ACCAP) Nepal

Achhami cattle grazing on pastureland.

Achhami bullocks moving forward cowshed from pastureland.

Surendra observing Achhami cattle inside cow shed.

Three year old Acchami cattle grazing in pastureland.

Town/RegionCountryCategoriesDate
Achham DistrictNepalAsia, Community, Education, Mammals26 Mar 2008

Locals will take part in conservation activities, if they realize genetic importance of these indigenous cattle. This project will try to empower them for conserving Achhami Cattle. Since it suits in low input systems, a farmer can rear several cattles together and get several benefits like milk and organic manure. As the organic manure increases soil fertility and crop productivity, livelihood of poor farmers will be better. The illegal trading of the cattle will be reduced. The project will also be helpful to develop and implement the appropriate program for the government/NGOs involved in biodiversity conservation. The interaction and workshop programs will explore the real status of the cattle, thereby helping to design the appropriate programs for the conservation of these cattle at national and local level. Likewise, documentation programs will be instrumental to document and disseminate the essential information about the need for and importance of indigenous animal genetic resources in Nepal. It is also helpful to provide milk for hilly and mountainous people. It will be the best breed among other exotic breed in term of adoptability and disease resistance.

In this situation, this project will try to retain the Achhami Cattle population, which is decreasing due to limited knowledge about the importance of it. The major aim of this project is to contribute to Achhami cattle conservation efforts in Acham district of Nepal through activities for raising awareness among local people. The project will highlight on the impact of current practices of cross breeding that threatens the genetic purity of Achhami cattle Interaction program will be conducted with representative from Animal Breeding Division, National Animal Science Research Institute (NASRI), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) and concerned District Livestock Service Offices (DLSOs).

Teaching program to impart theoretical/practical knowledge about the importance of the breed will be conducted to the representatives of local clubs, farmers, JTA etc. by the cattle specialists. An oratory contest will be conducted among the college level students about the importance of the indigenous cattle at local level.

Booklet will be prepared in local language to organize the information related to cattle & its importance & will be distributed to different organizations at local and national level. At least two information centres will be developed to disseminate the information at local level. These centres will be provided published and non-published documents.

For more information contact waglesurendra@hotmail.com or surendrawagle@gmail.com

Project Update: June 2008

Habitat
To protect from beer like carnivorous animal and cold, cattle are kept in dark cowshed in which faces of cow is not removed in order to decay fodder in its habitat.

Breeding System
Cross breeding is not done intentionally with exotic one but there is great chance of cross breeding with other indigenous bullocks. In breeding is more common being one bullock is available for servicing many cows in order to breeding, bullocks should be interchanged among different tole.

Labour Management
The size of the cattle is very small and can easily graze on pasture land and steep grass land, very low amount of input system is sufficient for it.

Use of Bullock
Bullocks are highly suitable in hill terrace. They are very strong for draught purposes. Achhami bullocks are cheaper than exotic bullocks so local people prefer for draught.

Slaughtering to Tibet
People from Jumla and Humla districts of Nepal buy the cattle in very low price or exchange with woolen blanket weaved from wool of mountain goat and sheep. 2 to 3 times per year and export to Tibet for slaughtering. Local people don't ask with Jumli and Humli for what purpose they buy the cattle. Local peoples sell or exchange with out any queries.

Project Update: December 2008

Read about the workshop conducted with the scholar of NARC and NASRI in the interim report below.

File DownloadSize
Project Update.doc31.5 KB
Final Report

Read about the activities undertaken and findings of this project in the final report below.

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Final Report.doc792 KB
2nd RSG Grant Awarded

Read about the latest development in Surendra's work with Achhami Cattle http://www.ruffordsmallgrants.org/rsg/projects/surendra_wagle_0


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