The World’s Largest Open Access Agricultural & Applied Economics Digital Library This document is discoverable and free to researchers across the globe due to the work of AgEcon Search. Help ensure our sustainability. Give to AgE con Search AgEcon Search http://ageconsearch.umn.edu [email protected] Papers downloaded from AgEcon Search may be used for non-commercial purposes and personal study only. No other use, including posting to another Internet site, is permitted without permission from the copyright owner (not AgEcon Search), or as allowed under the provisions of Fair Use, U.S. Copyright Act, Title 17 U.S.C. 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