High Altitude Pastoral System In Nepal
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By L. P. Sharma
Society for Sustainable development P.O Box 7322, Kathmandu, Nepal
Introduction
Nepal is a mountainous country running northwest to southeast between latitude 26O and
30 North with a total land area of 147,181 squire kilometers. The north-south width ranges
between 130 Km to 240 Km. The altitude varies from 67 meters in the south to 8848 m in the
north ( Mt. Everest). Grassland area is about 13.40% of total area.
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From the point of view of Pasture & Fodder development Nepal should be divided into three
parts:
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High altitude
Mid-hill
Terai
In the paper, high altitude grasslands will be described at length. In fact grasslands can be found
only high altitudes in Nepal. In mid-hills and Terai, there are only loitering places for animals;
true grasslands are only at high altitudes. Grasslands in Nepal are the areas found between 2000
m elevation to 5000 m elevation supporting 80 percent palatable herbage species and forbes,
devoid of trees, carrying hardy native Sheep, Yak, Chauri and Wild animals for maintenance.
High Altitude Environment
Permanent snow clad peaks, extreme cold and alpine temperate climate characterize high altitude
areas. Areas around 5000 m elevations above the tree line have alpine environment and area
below 5000 m – 2000-m elevation is temperate. Climate, temperature, solar radiation, wind,
slope, elevation and soil largely determine distribution of high altitude herbage. For example
rosette type plants can be found in windy places, Agrotis, sp. in drier places and Poa sp. in wet
sites. Botanical composition is perfect from grazer’s point of view but human activities have
disturbed the composition of compatible species and grassland deterioration has set in. Palatable
species have disappeared due to various biotic interferences.
High Altitude Grassland Husbandry System
Transhumance system of grazing is common in high altitudes. Herdsmen settle at about 2500-m
elevation. Sedentary animal husbandry is not possible due to snowfall and shortage of grazing
areas. Actually, there is no shortage of fodder at high altitudes but all the herbage remains under
snow for about six months in a year. Therefore, as soon as temperature rises, animals start
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ascending to the high elevations in March for grazing and they start moving down in August and
reach at 2000-m elevation. The pure breed Yak and Nak can not come down below 3000-m
elevation, they either have to go to Tibet for grazing while all the grasslands remain under
snow in Nepal or remain in Nepal under starving condition. Owners go to see their herd once a
while and offer boiled turnip slices or some corn bread, which does not help even for
maintenance. Actually these animals hibernate during winter.
Other animals like Chauri, Sheep, and goat while on the way to lower elevations, graze on the
crop stubble of arable fields and lopped branches of Quercus and Castanopsis are also fed.
Production performance of high altitude animals is very low. Nak produces 0.83 liters of milk per
day; Chauri produces 6 - 7 liters of milk daily. This milk is made into butter, cheese and chhurpi.
Barawal sheep produce about 0.85-kg wool per shearing. All high altitude animals are used as
pack animals also.
High altitude cereal crops like naked barley, buck wheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum ), Amaranthus
( Amaranthus cruentus ), Tunip ( Brassica spp ) and Potato ( Solanum tuberosum) provide food
to the native herdsmen for three months only and for rest of the year food is provided by
Livestock and barter trade on milk products.
High Altitude Pasture Development
Pasture development work was initiated in 10 districts adjoining Tibet. These districts are
Gorkha, Manag, Mustang, Dolpa, Humla, Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, Dolkha and
Sindhupalchowk. White Clover ( Trifolium repens S.184 ) and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium
perenne ) were planted in the grasslands; ryegrass did not survive. Now we can see clover
spreading in other unsowed areas also. Clover is adding nutrients to the other associated grasses
like Poa sp. and Agrostis sp. thereby increasing the stock carrying capacity of grassland.
Between 1976 – 1990 Pasture development activities were supported by His Majesty's
Government’s, Sheep Goat and Wool Development Project; Regional Pasture and Fodder
RAS/121 FAO project and High Altitude Pasture Development 007 FAO Project.
Technical and Social problems in high altitude grassland improvement
 Grasslands remain under snow for about 6 months in a year. This provides only a short
summer to undertake all the improvement works, which is a difficult task from logistical point of
view.
 The young people do not prefer to continue the harsh life of a transhumance herder.
Therefore livestock rearing in high altitude may decline in future.
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There is competition on grassland utilization between wild and domestic animals.
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Remoteness and lack of communication in high altitudes discourage people to work here,
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which directly affect pasture development activities.
 There is no local market for cheese at high altitudes and it has to be brought to
Kathmandu for sale
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Sheep improvement for better wool production for carpet making is required.
Shifting cultivation is causing soil erosion.
Prospects of high altitude grassland improvement
 Shifting cultivation especially for growing potatoes is common at high altitudes. After potato
harvest, the land is allowed to deteriorate due to re-appearance of Braken fern
( Anaphalis
nulegena ), Snakeroot ( Eupatorium sp.) Worm wool ( Artemisia vulgaris ) Stinging nettle (
Urtica parviflora ). Instead of infestation by these weeds palatable grazing legumes like white
clover ( Trifolium repens S. 184 ) etc can be easily introduced in the potato fallow.
 Eco- tourism should be developed in high altitudes to create additional sources of income
generation for the native herders.
Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank FAO and Mr. D. Pariyar, Chief, Pasture and Fodder Development
Division for providing the opportunity and facilities to interact with a large number of grassland
scientists of the Asian region.
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