Contents
Foreword iii
Preface v
Acknowledgements vii
Abbreviations viii
Contents ix
List of Figures, Boxes and Tables xii
1.Pastoralism and the Study 1-5
Background to the Study 1
1.1.1 Pastoralism in Gujarat 2
Objectives of the Study 4
Methodology for the Study 4
Relevance of this Work 5
2.Land and People 6 - 23
History of Pastoralism in Kutch 7
Post Independence Developments in Kutch 8
Land, Origin & Climatic Conditions 11
Ecology favouring Pastoralism - Grasslands 12
Pastoral & Other Communities of Banni 14
Demography, Amenities, Infrastructure 15
Productive and Consumer Asset Ownership 18
Livestock Ownership 19
Primary and Secondary Sources of Income 22
3.Pastoral Resources, Use and Mobility 24 - 56
Livestock, Breeds and Breeding Practices 24
Livestock Composition 24
Cattle and Buffalo Breeds 25
Breeding and Rearing Practices 26

Diversity of Grasses 32
Grazing Sources and System 34
Pastures of Other Villages 36
Wetlands of Banni 41
Bets in the Rann: Erstwhile Grazing Source 42
Purchasing Fodder from the Market 43

Daily Grazing Cycle 43
Grazing Norms among Pastoralists of Banni 44
Water Sources for Livestock 47

Using Diverse Water Sources 46
Traditional Water Systems: Zheel and Virdas of Banni 46
Mobility among Banni Pastoralists 47
Earlier Migrations 51
Current Mobility 53
Immigrant Livestock in Banni 56
4 Changing Pastoral Economy of Banni 57 - 75
Current Pastoral Economy 57
Bullock Trade of Banni 58

Procuring Young Calves 60
Rearing the Calves 61
Selling Bullocks to Farmers: Moving to Saurashtra 63
Buy Now, Pay Later: Interest Free Installments 64

Buffalo Trade of Banni 66
Changing Face of Banni: Milk and Other Pastoral Products 68

Arrival and Impact of Dairies 68
Economics of Buffalo Keeping: Pre and Post Dairy 71
Other Pastoral Products 72
Banni's Pastoral Economy: From Breeders to Milkmen 75
5.Not so Green: Changing Grasslands 76 - 94
Partition of India 77
Increased Soil Salinity 78
Invading Grasslands: Prosopis juliflora 80

History of Prosopis juliflora 81
Prosopis in Banni 83
Prosopis, Cattle Reduction and People's Perception 86
Choosing Buffalo over Cattle 89
What happens after Consuming Prosopis < 89