Common property resources rural livelihood and small ruminants in India: A review

Small ruminants (SRs) are important to landless and small/ marginal farmers especially in and and semi-arid regions of the country where crop production is risk prone enterprise. Over years, the composition of livestock in India changes in favour of SR. Common property resources (CPR) are important in rainfed areas where they supply fodder, fuel and other minor forest products. The SR production in India depends on common property resources where from major portion of their feed requirement is met. During past 50 years, area of CPR declined so as the quality and quantity of herbage production from CPR. The increases in population, privatisation of CPR, overgrazing were major causes for depletion of CPR. Several attempts were made to regenerate CPR through development of watersheds, reclamation of wasteland and pastures. The review describes CPR and their relationship with SR production and livelihood of rural masses, causes of depletion of CPR and strategies to improve them.