The Farming System that Ensures Biodiversity Conservation
Small scaled family farming plays a multidimensional role, ensure not only livelihood but play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation. Such farmers judiciously use the weeds and herbs grow along with the crops and use the crop residues as animal feed. Here are some pictures, I shot in my hometown Borai, Loralai which show us the beauty of this unique farming system. The farmer told me that he never used any pesticides and chemical fertilizer.
These grasses are rich in nutrients and the best feed for the sheep, goats and the cows.This weed is locally called as Shinshobey in Pashtu. It is a wild mint. This weed is dried/powdered and uses as food with yogurt and shlombey etc.This weed is called as Perwathke in Pashtu, a very rich feed for the small ruminants.The chicken thrives on the insects in the orchard and provides a rich source of protein.
Vegetables are grown at the orchard, providing rich and safe food for the family.
The beautiful but rich herbal plantApricot tree, the small piece of land is richer with different types of trees
The small canal providing a niche for the frog breeding. One can see the eggs of the frogs.
More plants and animals diversity is placed on a smaller piece of land with the highest productivity and the whole family depends on this farm in one or other way.
The almond tree with heavy production
Almond catch good prices and also a source of family food in winter
Alfalfa for cow (milking)
Some green chilies are the integral part of the food
The beautiful fig fruits
The fig plant
The cow dung is dried and use as a fuel. The remaining material (powdered) is used as farmyard manure
Borai is home to delicious Anar (Pomegranate)Damson fruit, locally called as Aloo. The dried fruit is a source of spices with sheep meat.
We can find many different types of trees, plants, vegetables, and weeds on a smaller piece of land
I’m PhD in Animal Agriculture, currently working as a Technical Manager at Al Ain Farms for Livestock Production, Camel dairying, Alain, UAE. I had performed as a Professor and Dean, at the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences Pakistan (LUAWMS). I work on and write for the subjects of ‘turning camel from a beast of burden to a sustainable farm animal’, agricultural research policies, extensive livestock production systems, food security under climate change context, and sustainable use of traditional genetic resources for food and agriculture.
Iim advocating camel under the theme of CAMEL4LIFE and believe in camel potential. I’m the founder and head of the Society of Animal, Veterinary and Animal Scientists (SAVES), and Founder of the Camel Association of Pakistan. I also work as a freelance scientist working (currently member of steering committee) for Desert Net International (DNI).
I’m an ethnoecologist, ethnobotanist, Ethnovet and ethomedicie researcher and reviewer. I explore deserts and grazing lands for knowledge and understanding.
View all posts by Dr Raziq
6 thoughts on “The Farming System that Ensures Biodiversity Conservation”
Indeed small family maintained orchards a popular subsistance farming in some area of pakistan provided the land blessed with some irrigation water. This type of farming provide good physical activity to owner family members ,organic , nutritious and safe food.
![IMG_8357[1]](https://arkbiodiv.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/img_83571.jpg?w=840)
![IMG_E8686[1]](https://arkbiodiv.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/img_e86861.jpg?w=840)
![IMG_8362[1]](https://arkbiodiv.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/img_83621.jpg?w=840)
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Reblogged this on Small Scaled Farmers and the pastoralists are the backbones of animal agriculture. They play a pivotal role not only in producing quality food item but also conserving the genetic resources as well as nature for the next generations. Contrast to the factory farming small scaled farming and pastoralism do not use (up to their level best) pesticides and chemical fertilizers etc. They do not harm the nature by the blind use of inputs like energy and water. They are the custodians of the genes and nature. and commented:
small scaled orchard farming is a paradise of plants and animal genetic biodiversity.
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Indeed small family maintained orchards a popular subsistance farming in some area of pakistan provided the land blessed with some irrigation water. This type of farming provide good physical activity to owner family members ,organic , nutritious and safe food.
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Thanks for your appreciation. You are welcome always.
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An interesting post. I would like to see more of this type of farming in the world. Thank you for posting it.
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you are welcome. I’m sure, you will seek further knowledge from our very rich website arbiodiv.com
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