Banni grassland=[edit]

Introduction[edit]

Banni grassland is a grassland of banni community situated on the southern border in the mainland of the Great Rann of Kutch District, Gujarat. It spread over 3847 sq. km., owing its own grassland and rich wildlife and its vast biodiversity it become a pride of the Kutch. During monsoon season, due to it rich wetland it attract fauna from various part of world. It is one of the best pasture land of the world because it contain a vast range land with the flat topography.

History[edit]

Some time ago, the area of grassland is known for its best variety of grasses and these grasses are called “Banni” and make a form of dessert of Kutch. The word “banni” comes from Hindi and it means made or built up area. Earlier it was an oceanic area, island type and then it is being replaced and formed grassland. So it is built up. Earlier in 1819 the Indus river flow right from the banni grassland and all the farmers use that water to harvest their crops and come up with a rich harvest of red rice and Sindhi chookah. However the earthquake strikes in 1819 lead to change the flow of the river and now the river flow from the neighboring country Pakistan and lead to turn the Banni grassland whole area barren.

Soil[edit]

As the banni grassland is made by removing oceanic area, the soil of banni is contain saline and not be used for the purpose of vegetation. Only 1/3rd of the land is used for cultivation and the rest is converted into the dessert. Legally the banni pastured land is a wasteland according to government as no production can be grown on this land. Increase in development leads to construction of dams and road in the Kutch, it adversely affect the drainage system of the land.

Problem is being faced by banni[edit]

As the ecosystem of banni is degrading, the local community like Sindhi, Jat, Mutwa tribes is affecting adversely. The milk production is being reduced as the buffaloes were replaced by famous breed of cows, and the grazing were also closed forcefully because this is the only factor which can retain productivity in the grassland. The state social forestry programme attempted to afforest the land but the success of the land is heavily subjected to drought, sterility of soil.

Grasslands[edit]

Due to saline fertile land the fodder of Gujarat is too weak. It is one of the fodder deficit state in India. During the drought years Gujarat has to bring food from the northern area of the country like Punjab and the south of Gujarat where the rainfall is assured. However cattle are saved but they are too weak to produce anything as the grassland of banni is unique in many ways as it can produce the charcoal, milk, gum , wood , labour employment. Currently these grassland are protected under protected or reserve forest in India. Banni is an essential grazing land for the livestock of Maldhari community.