Towards Greener Pastures: An Overview of Pastoral Economics, Policies and Ecologies in India
| Title | Towards Greener Pastures: An Overview of Pastoral Economics, Policies and Ecologies in India |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2025 |
| Authors | Aniruddh S, Mayank K, Jayashree R, Vasant S, Mahesh S |
| Journal | Economic & Political Weekly |
| Abstract | The ecological, economic, and policy challenges facing pastoralism and grassland ecosystems in India, particularly in the context of climate change and evolving land-use pressures are critically examined. Drawing upon a global literature, the paper contextualises Indian pastoralism and its grassland dynamics, highlighting the ecological factors shaping pastoralism across the country. It describes the pastoral economy, drawing attention to the often-underestimated size and scale of this enterprise. It then documents the historical mischaracterisation of rangelands as wastelands and argues that these ecosystems are vital for pastoral livelihoods and have unique biodiversity characteristics. |