ABSTRACT

In 1960, the nucleus for the range research was established by the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fisheries (PAAFR). A Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) project was initiated at that time for a three year period which focused on reconnaissance survey, establishment of exclosures and quantification of the rangeland resources.

A renewed interest in range research and development was activated in 1978 when the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) and PAAFR developed a comprehensive three-year research program. It was directed towards quantification of rangeland resources, assessment of plants growing on rangelands for animal production, and investigation of some feasible range management practices for increased vegetative cover and de-desertification. Upon completion of this phase, another range project was developed in 1984, which ended in 1988 with broad objectives to allow for a comprehensive vegetation survey of the major grazing areas, evaluate animal response and grazing impact of local sheep under Kuwait’s range conditions, investigate range improvement practices that enhance primary production of rangelands, develop an appropriate model for evaluation of range components, train Kuwaiti personnel in range management, and provide recommendation for their management. Encouraging results were obtained from the project which convinced KISR to adopt range research as a core research activity in its program. The institute is currently embarking to launch Phase III of the range project. The paper will highlight range achievements made with major emphasis on the program’s progress during the last five years.