Tag: climate change

The Ancient Trees Heritage of Borai ~ Arya Warsha

Trees are very important, that we all know. They are important because of many reasons, i.e. shade, fruits, feed for animals, fixing atmospheric carbon & producing oxygen, fixing land, purifying/halting winds, providing habitats to insects, birds, reptiles and other animals, scenic attraction, herbal value, building material and anymore.

Old Trees Heritage
Trees are very important from many angles. Fixing atmospheric carbon, producing oxygen, provision of shadow, producing fruits/fodders for human and animals both can be the few characteristics of the tree but there are many more apparent and hidden purposes of the trees.

Borai is an ancient traditional grazing and farming land, an offshoot of the historical Arya Warsha (the grazing lands). http://livestockscience.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/00_slutversion_after_revision_av_Raigi_camel_till_J_Livestock_science.pdf

The trees are a precious heritage and social treasures. We have great affection with the trees, especially the ancient trees. Our elders were used to sit under these trees making Jirga (Pashtun traditional jury) and other social event. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jirga

Trees are the fixed tents of the people to sit under and take refuge from scorching sunshine and rains. This tree is an old mulberry tree. Once, our village people were used to feed the mulberry leaves to the silkworms. I remember that golden time.

This is an ancient tree, Mulberry. The trees is almost 300 years. The elders people told that the tree is always harmed by thunder storms, which burns the trunk. The tree is hard and resilient.
An ancient mulberry tree (Thooth) in Borai. This tree is at the bank of Zingiwall Karez in Uryagi moza.

Go Home Message

Trees are the sign of life and health of mother earth. Unfortunately the human activities are adversely affecting the health of the mother earth. These trees are at the bank of the Karez (traditional water channel), which are drying because of the over exploitation/mining of the water and the overall climate change calamities. We need to save these trees. I met to the many owners/community of the trees to aware them about the importance and to think about the ways to conserve. They are earth loving people and they are ready to save each ancient tree.

The Camel Milk Story “Theme of the World Camel Day 2018”

Dear friends and colleagues,
Greetings from the camels’ world.
We, the camel activists celebrate world camel day since last few years. Different groups of the people celebrate this day it in the different parts of the world in different ways. The idea behind celebrating world camel day is to aware the public and the policymakers regarding the important role of a camel in the food security under climate change scenario. World Camel Day (June 22)
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Themes of Different Years
  • In 2016, the theme was “CAMEL FOR LIFE”
  • 2017, the theme was “Camel Journey from its original habitat to the modern world
  • 2018, the theme is “The camel milk story”
Anyone from any part of the world, who is interested to share his/er story can send it to my email, which will be shared via camel4all.com website with the name of the storyteller.
It is a great opportunity for the camel milk producing companies to share their stories (history and products etc) with the world.
Let’s celebrate this year world camel day as the awareness day for the precious milk of the camel.
Some link from the previous world camel days

Hope to hear from your side.

Beautiful Barela camel
A young camel herder with a Barela camel

This was an email, I sent to the camel people.

A Symbol of Resilience and Patience~The Acacia Tree of the Arabian Desert

Acacia tortilis tree is an incredible desert creature. It survives in harsh and hostile ecosystems and resist the normal weathering conditions but evolves its resistance to the changing climates. The Ice Cream Species of Plants for the Camel and Goat. Part 1

 

Acacia Tortilis
I took this picture in the city of the Alain during my morning walk on the weekend.

I always tried to learn the lessons of strength, patience, and resilience of the plants and animals. See the beautiful and special tree, the Acacia of the desert ecosystem. The botanical name is Acacia tortilis and the local names are Samr, Samur, and Salam.

Acacia tortilis (Samur)
The blossom of Acacia Tortilis

I’m talking about the Acacia Tortilis (Samr, Samur or Salam), a compound leaf, the thorny and hardy tree of the Arabian desert. Highly resistant tree of drylands and the desert. The camel and goats both like it. Such strong and resilient plants products give camels strong feelings of survival. TERRESTRIAL HABITATS

Acacia Tortilis
The beautiful pods of the resilient tree can be seen guarded by sharp spines

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The close view of the compound leaf of the Acacia tortilis
A Close View of the Compound Leaves

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A Hard and Resilient Creature

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The Tree has its own artistic structure, a heart touching beauty. I took this picture in the Alain city

The resilience of the tree in the driest conditions

Plastic and other Rubbish Thrown in the Acacia tree
We must care and respect the nature. The plastics and other rubbish is thrown in this precious creature. It is hazardous and dangerous for the tree health and the environment at large

A Picture Explain the Powerful Connection

 

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Saving me from the sunshine, a way of camel love and care

 

The symbolism of this picture is powerful! Not only of our interconnectedness but furthermore I believe, that the camel will lead countries out of the extreme climate change. The camel, in all its resourcefulness and functionality, will feed and nurture the world.

Not better than wearing a hat?

The Ultimate Choice or an Old Song with the New Drum?

I hereby to start a discussion about the selection of genetic resource for livelihood in the difficult ecosystems of the world. In my view, a true and durable sustainability of food production can be achieved with the tool of the local/native genetic resources embodied with the traditional knowledge. 

The Kharani camel in the Kharan desert
The best milk yielder in the deserted ecosystems

*Sustainability in true sense means ‘considering the hidden costs like water & carbon footprint along with the other environmental factors.

 Based on my experience and lifetime achievement, the native/local genetic resources are the only choice to ensure livelihood in a true sense of sustainability RESILIENCE OF NATIVE LIVESTOCK BREEDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE
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In the far and wide drylands of the world, local/native genetic resources are playing a pivotal role in sustaining livelihood in the difficult environments since unknown time. To me, the camel is one of the best choices among the best genetic resources.

Originally domesticated for food production, especially milk, the camel was later used for other purposes and the milk became the secondary product.

Good news, that camel is again turning towards its original task, the milk. Camel is no more the animal of the old world, but an animal which may be used to combat the growing desertification and to feed millions of people living in those regions. It has been shown that camels can provide 15-20 liters of milk per day for a lactation period of up to 18 months, making it a very good farm animal.

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Based on my personal experience of a camel farm for milk purpose, some camels can produce >12,000 kg milk per lactation (genetic potential) but the majority of population fall in >3,000 kg. The yield is sustainable in the true sense as camel consumes a lesser quantity of water/kg milk production. The same is true for the energy consumption as the camel doesn’t need weather comfort because of its special genes adapted to hostile weathers. 

Africa, the Climate Change Hot Spot

Studies conducted in the horn of Africa revealed that the camel produced more milk than the other types of tropical animals compared on the basis of kg/TLU/year. A wide part of the African continent is well familiar with the camel milk, and consider it the fluid of choice in all conditions. Camel Milk and Challenges of Modern Time; The Concept of Natural Health

Africa camel

The Treasure is Uncovered in Another Hot Spot

South Asia, especially dryland (Western India and a major part of Pakistan) are the worst affected by the climate change calamities. The great Thar Desert being the habitat of the world’s best milk camel is an uncovered treasure of the region. Badly neglected and hidden from the consideration of the policymakers. A Beautiful Camel Heritage is Sinking

The Camel Milk in Pakistan~An Example

Pakistan is home to 0.9 million camels with a 20% of lactating camel (herd composition) Livestock production and population census in Pakistan: Determining their relationship with agricultural GDP using econometric analysis. About 0.18 million camels give milk for a lactation (average 2,200 kg/lactation), producing around 396,000 ton of milk annually but had never been considered a documented food item in the grey records of the country. Per head basis camel in the country produces far better than the indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds, Frisian, and their crosses (in true measurement model).

Image result for best brela camel pakistan milk udder

Conclusion

The time has reached to know and exploit the true potential of native genetic resources like camel and to find the ways to sustain livelihood (in the true sense) of the generations to come. I would appreciate a positive and healthy debate to be initiated regarding the food production in a truly sustainable model under the climate change scenario.

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Farmers Hardship Under the Establishment’s Eyes

The farmers are not the part of the policy-making process. They are out of the decision making forums. The policies are driven by the people whom interest lies in the wars and conflicts. On both sides of the border, the policy-making is in the hand of powerful establishments to keep the tension alive and strengthen their vested interests.

This year (2017), we noticed a stinging acceleration in the prices of certain agricultural commodities like Onion (from the June until now) and tomato (September to date) in Pakistan. During the same period, such products remained at the lowest prices in India. The higher prices of these commodities in Pakistan were because of the closure of the Durand Line, the weathering extremities, and the higher demand for those items.

Who Suffer

The Farmer in India & Afghanistan and the consumer in Pakistan

One can see interesting but annoying pictures throughout in the region on the internet. In India, the farmer throwing the tomato and onion on the roads as a show of anger, while the people in Pakistan are struggling to manage tomato and onion for family use.

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Onioned was thrown and crushed in India for their low prices

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The tomato crisis in Pakistan

Interestingly, when the prices of tomato were low in Pakistan, that time the prices were high in India and the same was for the onion. I just gave the example of 2 products otherwise there are many examples.

The Root Cause of the Problem

The farmers are not the part of the policy-making process. They are out of the decision making forums. The policies are driven by the people whom interest lies in the wars and conflicts. On both sides of the border, the policy-making is in the hand of powerful establishments to keep the tension alive and strengthen their vested interests.

For the establishment, the troubled relationship is a better source of income but the masses suffer. As a personal experience, I the establishment wants to weaken the farmers to grab their land and other resources. Usually, such people when retired from their jobs, start the business of the real estate and buy the lands from the farmer and change into the concrete jungle.

The Solution, if any?

A strong and influential voice of the farmers on the both side can mak the change.

 

Less Consumption is the Best Solution

Eating Less and Adaptation to Slow Food

The idea of ‘eating less and adaptation of slow food pattern’ need to be supported and promoted. The more we consume, the more is the hike in problems (warming, poor health, and other catastrophes). Such problems and climate change are very much linked with the quantity, quality, and pattern of consumption, in all ways from food to energy.People’s Animal Agriculture and Low Carbon Livestock

The Values of Life Must be Discussed Again

The values of life we have accepted to be true since decades need to be analyzed and discussed again. I have been challenging those values. An endless growth is not possible (how big we can be?) with finite resources and a finite capacity of our earth to store carbon and tolerate heat. Endless growth is not possible when it makes those most vulnerable suffer (the small scaled rural farmer) even more when it undermines the social system. We do not only need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies but we have to change our perspective on our energy consumption and even feeding the habit.

The Peoples’ Agriculture is the Solution

Let’s promote people’s agriculture and respect the values and knowledge of the communities (their knowledge is sound as evolved since unknown ages, in tune environmental conditions and the consumers’ demands) and to involve them in research and development policies.

People and Animal Agriculture~The Philosophy of the Low Carbon Livestock

I love the concept of the people’s agriculture and intelligence. Here are some great pictures for your eyes, my precious reader. The people agriculture is low carbon livestock. The pictures tell how useful and sustainable is such type of husbandry. It is raised locally and consume locally, the great job the people doing.

The unique sheep breed of central Balochistan with promising milk yield potential. The keepers keep the animals like their family member. Look, they have made an artistic hair/wool cut

The landscape is one of the most beautiful among the scenic views in Pakistan. The sheep breed has fine wool and have a promising compensatory growth.

I found a very useful link to a blog from my friend page, it will be very informative for those who are the beginners in the people’s agriculture Low carbon livestock.

Food for Thought

The climate change along with growing desertification consequence in the adoption of new strategies, for the native livestock keepers’, adaptation is the best tactic. Unfortunately, the so-called policy makers are not that much in tune as the rural indigenous people of the bush are. These sensible livestock keepers know how to materialize livestock agriculture sustainably as; to satisfy versatile requirements of the owner/community and ensure its own life whereas depending on available natural resources (the people wisdom).

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Walking with their precious animal in search of vegetation and water. The native livestock has a unique walking ability

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Musakheli sheep, a very efficient animal, good converter, and well adapted to the harsh climatic conditions. The meat is juicy and highly liked by the people. They dry the meat and consume in winter. The dry meat is called Landi or Persenda

Turning Again to the Native Gene ~ Back to the Future
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The Wise Strategy

The strategies adopted by the native/indigenous people are highly useful to guarantee sustainable farming systems under climate change scenario. Their knowledge is based on centuries’ long experience and evolved with the natural phenomena; making it the treasurable heritage of humanity. They evolve their practice/systems in tune with the prevailing conditions, availability of the natural resources and the consumers demand their products to judicially use the livestock genetic resources. The native livestock keepers deserve the right place and share in the research and development strategies adopted for the agriculture sector of a country.

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Native cow, small in size with a compact body, well adapted to the ecosystem of the region.

For more details, please go to the links below;

http://dry-net.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/091220_potential_of_livestock_breeds_of_Baluchistan_final_.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216121092_Prospects_of_Livestock_Production_in_Balochistan

®Native livestock Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture are very diverse in many ways, having different names in different regions, many colors, sizes, and purposes etc.

 

The Blind Export of Precious Donkey will lead to Extinction of this Genetic Resource

The Donkey’s Importance

  1. Donkey, the beautiful but very useful creature

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2. Donkey, the wheel of the rural life

donkey and rural life..donkey in rural life

3. Donkey is the wheel of urban transport

Urban lifeUrban..

4. Donkey is the companion of nomads and ensures movability

nomadNomads.

5. The unique biodiversity

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6. Unfortunately, neglected and avoided

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7. Treated in a bad way, no respect

8. But a strong and adapted Creature

strong and adapted.jpg.,,donkey is the most useful and strong

9. The obedient and beautiful

10. A bad decision, a dark decision, leading to extinction

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11. Planning to send to the hell

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12. The hell of Chinese food and cosmetics

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Donkey meat

This cruel trade is already going on and flourishing.

Demand for donkey skin in China leads to barbaric killings in SA China’s demand for African donkeys prompts export bans

But there are bold steps from some countries.

Niger is the latest African country to ban donkey exports to China

Epilogue

Unfortunately and sadly, my own country is going to export this useful creature to China. The China’s demand will never end for the donkey. There is the danger of extinction of this useful and precious animal in Pakistan. The poor people use the donkey to earn the livelihood. The rich people and greedy companies will make business and the poor will ruin. I hereby appeal to the policy makers to please re-think on the decision and study the social and economic aspects of the export of the precious donkey.

KP govt proposes plan to regulate donkey rearing and export to China

Thousands of donkey skins have already been exported to China (from Pakistan) under an unfair and silent trade. Who ate the meat of those killed and skinned donkeys? Nobody knows the reality of this dark and black business. The people of the country have the right to know the reality of this business. The link is provided below.

83,475 skins sent to China: FBR urged to ban export of donkey hides

The author had been struggling to visualize the importance of this precious animal. Since last few years, the author in collaboration with a great team of like-minded people is celebrating world donkey day World Donkey Day (May 8). We also have a facebook page of World Donkey Day.

This sad news is circulating amid the onset of the world donkey day. This fact is making me so sad and unhappy. The jokes are making on social media regarding this burning issue. I appeal to the public of the Pakistan to please have a serious look on this matter of urgent nature.

Some more links about the donkey trade with China

China’s silent donkey skin importation from Africa

The China is going to use CPEC for the import of donkey and other agricultural goods from Africa. A social and environmental impact studies are the utmost need to be done in Pakistan. Please do not go for blind decisions.

Reminding the Role of Poor Creature~The Donkey

Is Coffee Really Going to Extinct Because of Climate Change?

The Arabica coffee plant, the source of all bushes on coffee farms, is expected to go extinct within the next century. Researchers from the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, recently found that global warming is having disastrous effects on the plant. The “bioclimatically suitable localities” (places where the plant can grow) are decreasing like crazy. Within just a few years, the places that are sufficient for wild coffee growth are expected to decrease anywhere from 65-100 percent.

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For more details;

http://www.msn.com/en-ae/lifestyle/tipsandtrickfood/coffee-is-going-extinct-this-is-what-you-need-to-know/ar-BBu5uS4?li=BBqrVLO&ocid=UP97DHP

 

Small Scaled Farming Promotes Diversity

Contrary to factory farming, small scaled farming promote diversity. The factory farming promotes uniformity. Here are the key massages of the International Penal of Expert on Sustainable Food Systems (iPES)’s discussion.

The slogan of the IPES is “FROM UNIFORMITY TO DIVERSITY”

The key massages are here below.

  • Today’s food and farming systems have succeeded in supplying large volumes of foods to global markets, but are generating negative outcomes on multiple fronts: widespread degradation of land, water and ecosystems; high GHG emissions; biodiversity losses; persistent hunger and micro-nutrient deficiencies alongside the rapid rise of obesity and diet-related diseases; and livelihood stresses for farmers around the world.
  • Many of these problems are linked specifically to ‘industrial agriculture’: the input-intensive crop monocultures and industrial-scale feedlots that now dominate farming landscapes. The uniformity at the heart of these systems, and their reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides and preventive use of antibiotics, leads systematically to negative outcomes and vulnerabilities.
  • Industrial agriculture and the ‘industrial food systems’ that have developed around it are locked in place by a series of vicious cycles. For example, the way food systems are currently structured allows value to accrue to a limited number of actors, reinforcing their economic and political power, and thus their ability to influence the governance of food systems.* Sacks - Kibera, Kenya - Photo Avantgardens - 24631_623615430985555_2019559313_n_2.jpg
  • Tweaking practices can improve some of the specific outcomes of industrial agriculture, but will not provide long-term solutions to the multiple problems it generates.
  • What is required is a fundamentally different model of agriculture based on diversifying farms and farming landscapes, replacing chemical inputs, optimizing biodiversity and stimulating interactions between different species, as part of holistic strategies to build long-term fertility, healthy agro-ecosystems and secure livelihoods, i.e. ‘diversified agroecological systems’.
  • There is growing evidence that these systems keep carbon in the ground, support biodiversity, rebuild soil fertility and sustain yields over time, providing a basis for secure farm livelihoods.
  • Data shows that these systems can compete with industrial agriculture in terms of total outputs, performing particularly strongly under environmental stress, and delivering production increases in the places where additional food is desperately needed. Diversified agroecological systems can also pave the way for diverse diets and improved health.small scaled
  • Change is already happening. Industrial food systems are being challenged on multiple fronts, from new forms of cooperation and knowledge-creation to the development of new market relationships that bypass conventional retail circuits.
  • Political incentives must be shifted in order for these alternatives to emerge beyond the margins. A series of modest steps can collectively shift the centre of gravity in food systems. Key messages 2 RE

For details, please go to the link below;

Click to access UniformityToDiversity_ExecSummary.pdf

 

Factory Farming Leads to Soil Erosion

Small-scaled subsistence farming is the key to keep our soil healthy and fertile. On the other hand the factory farming is resulting in the soil erosion and narrowing the genetic resources (biodiversity). The erosion of soil has largely occurred due to the loss of structure by continual disturbance for crop planting and harvesting. If soil is repeatedly turned over, it is exposed to oxygen and its carbon is released into the atmosphere, causing it to fail to bind as effectively. This loss of integrity impacts soil’s ability to store water, which neutralizes its role as a buffer to floods and a fruitful base for plants.

Featured Image -- 66The world has lost a third of its arable land due to erosion or pollution in the past 40 years, with potentially disastrous consequences as global demand for food soars, scientists have warned.

For details, please go to the link below;

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/02/arable-land-soil-food-security-shortage

 

“Water scarcity” — a condition defined by the withdrawal of more water than is sustainably available — DESERTIFICATION

Photo credit: Nature ‘Water scarcity’ affects four billion people each year Global map charts locations that use more water than is available in at least one month each year. by Emma Marris In the western United States, disputes over the management of the Klamath River, which wends its way from southern Oregon to the […]

via “Water scarcity” — a condition defined by the withdrawal of more water than is sustainably available — DESERTIFICATION

Saving Life on Earth–Saving Biodiversity — GarryRogers Nature Conservation

Human Impact on Biodiversity Unaware of the consequences of its behavior, the growing human population is erasing sixty-five million of years of biodiversity recovery since the massive extinction that eliminated dinosaurs and most other species. This is without doubt the greatest issue of our time, perhaps of all time. In the article below, Quentin Wheeler […]

via Saving Life on Earth–Saving Biodiversity — GarryRogers Nature Conservation

Is Climate Change Well Understood?

The climate change is reality

A huge set of data and the prevailing situations are witnessed of a catastrophic climate change happening. Almost all the major part of the societies are agreed that climate change is happening and the agriculture system will suffer further. The floods, erratic or no rainfall, desertification etc. have adversely affected (and continue even with the faster pace) to alter agriculture production potential of arable farming and livestock productions system.

Livestock Production is Suffering Adversely

The neutral zones of thermoregulation in animals are very challenging and heat intolerance, especially in exotic high producing animals is a catastrophic. The food security is a real challenge and many parts of the world (in one or other farm) is facing hunger and malnutrition.

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Native Livestock have the Adaptation Power

But there are good and potential tools we have to adapt with the higher/lower temperatures and produce in very low input production systems; they are the native animals and plants genetic resources. Unfortunately, their role is seldom value and addressed accordingly which results in development faulty policies regarding food and agriculture. The keepers of the native breeds are void of a strong voice and are seldom heard by policy makers while formulating policies regarding the genetic resources and food security.

But the Native Livestock is under Threat

This situation is very complex and challenging. Many of the gene keepers (herders) are giving up their profession. Their historic lands for natural are either grabbed by the influential persons or secured from grazing at the name of nature conservation. One of the very alarming example is from the camel breeders of Rajastan India. The camel is really sinking and the population have gone down manifolds in last 3 decade. camel in Balochistan

The same is the situation in the Thal and Thar desert of Pakistan.

Conclusion

The time has reached to reconsider the existing policies regarding food and agriculture and give proper place and task to the native gene and its keeper to beat the challenge of food security in clime change context.