NATURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT OF DAL LAKE AND DOCUMENTATION OF WILD FODDERS WITH COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL FOR KASHMIR VALLEY, J & K

Abstract

Exploration and collection of fodder plants from the lake is an important day to day activity of the local communities living within and in the vicinity of Dal Lake. Fodder collection is an important source of economy, for sustaining livlihoods of local communities. Further, for livestock rearing, the fodder plants are commercially sold to markets for generation of economy. Intensive field surveys were carried in the lake in order to document the knowledge of fodder plants collected from the lake. A total of 9 plants, belonging to 8 families, used as fodder for livestock were documented from the lake. The documentation of the data will in turn help in identifying the important nutritious fodder plants, for supporting the livestock and enhancing the livlihoods of local people.
Keywords: Fodder plants, Lake Ecosystem, Local people, Livestock