ABSTRACT
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................. 170 7.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 170 7.2 Climate ................................................................................................................................. 171 7.3 Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 172 7.4 Land Distribution and Agriculture ....................................................................................... 172 7.5 Forages and Livestock Interrelationships ............................................................................. 172 7.6 Importance of Rotation Research for Rainfed Forage Crops ............................................... 173 7.7 Legumes as an Integration Model to Maintain Agricultural Sustainability ........................ 174
7.7.1 Bulk........................................................................................................................... 175 7.7.2 High Fiber ................................................................................................................. 175 7.7.3 Proteins ..................................................................................................................... 175 7.7.4 Vitamins ................................................................................................................... 175 7.7.5 Minerals .................................................................................................................... 175
7.8 Potential Forage Crops Specific for the Regional Economy ................................................ 175 7.8.1 Legume Forages........................................................................................................ 175
7.8.1.1 Lucerne/Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) ........................................................ 175 7.8.1.2 Berseem/Egyptian Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) ........................... 176 7.8.1.3 Persian Clover or Shaftal (Trifolium resupinatum L.) ............................... 177 7.8.1.4 Mungbean (Vigna radiata [L.] Wilczek) ................................................... 177 7.8.1.5 Fenugreek/Methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) ................................... 177
7.8.2 Graminaceous Forages ............................................................................................. 177 7.8.2.1 Oat (Avena sativa L.) ................................................................................. 177 7.8.2.2 Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) .................................................................. 178 7.8.2.3 Forbs .......................................................................................................... 178
ABBREVIATIONS
ARI Agricultural Research Institute FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FAOSTAT Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database FRI Fodder Research Institute GDP Gross domestic product IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change MIG Management-intensive grazing NARC National Agriculture Research Centre NCFRP National Coordinated Fodder Research Program PARC Pakistan Agricultural Research Council SCARP Salinity Control and Reclamation Project
7.1 INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is one of the main contributors to gross domestic product (GDP) in South Asia, and it has demonstrated impressive growth trends in past decades due to the success of the Green Revolution. However, the region is neglected in terms of infrastructure development and lack of growth in industry and agriculture as well as economic and social development. The majority of the local population live in rural areas. South Asia is the poorest region in the world after sub-Saharan Africa, and most of the countries in the region are among the least economically developed. The World Bank has indicated that 40% of the population in South Asia live below the poverty line. Pakistan is the fifth largest economy in the region in terms of GDP (FAO 2012).
