Urgent need in Buffalo development for food security and self-sufficiency 

C Chantalakhana

Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Buffalo has been recognized to contribute significantly to the sustainability of mixed crop-livestock farming systems as well as to farmer’s income and food security in Asia.  Buffaloes provide meat, draft power, and manure; while utilize rice straw and crop residues which would be mostly wasteful without them.  In spite of their usefulness to Asian smallholder farmers, buffaloes have been neglected by national governments.  Buffaloes have been exploited for various purposes but neglected by research, development, and promotion.  They have been ignored because practically all buffaloes in Asia belong to resource-poor farmers.  During the last two decades many countries especially in Southeast Asia have observed declining trends in buffalo population due to high rates of slaughter.  Factors affecting the reduction in buffalo population were discussed.  They were catagorized into four groups : (1) socio-economic factors, (2) government policies, (3) institutional factors, and (4) technical constraints.  Reasons for drastic decline of buffalo population in Thailand were elaborated in details.

Many reasons have been given why national governments in Asia and donor countries should reconsider supports and attention to buffalo development for food security and sustainable rural development, as well as self-sufficiency of rural farmers.  Various development proposals, such as buffalo bank, promotion of buffalo conservation and development villages, village buffalo emergency fund, government policies and laws, and others were presented in details.  Urgent and strong supports from regional and international agencies are strongly called for.

Key words: Buffalo, Thailand, food security

Introduction

Recognizing the important roles of buffaloes on small farms in rural area of Asia, Ross Cockrill (1994), one of the world livestock authorities, strongly noted that “Of all the domestic animals which serve mankind the Asian buffalo holds the greatest promise and potential for production”.

It is well recognized that most small farms (75 to 85%) depend on rain-fed agricultural production.  They have practiced farming or integrated farming for many centuries.  Buffaloes have been incorporated as a vital component in these sustainable agricultural production systems.  They continue to provide renewable resources in terms of draught power and manure, while meat or milk are secondary products in these systems.  It is very evident in Thailand, where rice productivity during the last three or four decades has been sustained at a constant level, while chemical fertilizer use has been minimal.  Thai farmers in rain-fed areas have been using cattle and buffalo manure to maintain soil fertility.  Manure is spread on to paddy fields in early rainy season and ploughed down before rice planting.  Each adult buffalo can produce 4 to 6 metric tons of wet manure per year.  Besides being used as fertilizer, manure has also been used for other purposes such as burning fuel, construction material, and others.

In most developing countries, draught animal power remains an important source of farm power in spite of the increasing use of petroleum-based power in certain areas of some countries, such as South China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indochina.  From socio-economic aspects of existing farming systems in these countries, which are not expected to change quickly or drastically, the mixed use of all these sources of power in suitable proportions will offer the highest benefit to the farmers, especially those under rain-fed agriculture.

In the last two decades, farm mechanization has increased at various rates in many Asian countries.  This raises questions concerning the future of draught animal power.  But it is clear that the benefit of mechanization on crop yield will be realized only when other production factors such as fertilizer, insecticide, and irrigation become available and economical.  It is therefore evident that under the prevailing rain-fed conditions and subsistence farming in developing countries mechanization has not played a major role in sustainable crop production.

For Asia, in general, in spite of the apparent increase in the use of farm machinery, especially in irrigated areas, in most of the cultivated areas the use of draught animal power will remain proportionately high.  In many cases, draught animal power can be strengthened so as to be complementary to the mechanized system.

Another important aspect of sustainable integrated farming systems practiced by rural smallholders is the utilization of crop wastes and by-products, such as cereal straws, maize and sorghum stovers, pineapple waste, sweet potato vines and groundnut vines, by ruminant animals.  Buffaloes are known to digest such poor-quality roughages more efficiently than cattle, and in developing countries small-farmers commonly use crop wastes and by-products to feed animals, especially buffaloes.  In some areas, where farmers do not raise buffaloes or other ruminants, they burn straw and stubble in order to dispose of them; this is wasteful, creates pollution, and sometimes causes serious accidents.

It has been shown that the yield of wheat or rice straw in weight is equivalent to grain yield.  Maize stover is 70-75% and pineapple waste 60-80%.  An enormous amount of fibrous by-products from cereals and other crops is available each year in many regions of the world.  In developing countries, where most farmers are rural smallholders, these crop wastes and by-products are usually available in relatively small quantities at the farm; hence, they are not economically marketable.  Some of these crop wastes such as stubble and stovers, are left over in the field, buffaloes eat these crop wastes and also get rid of green weeds as well as dropping manure in the fields.  These features are among the many complicated and delicate interrelationship between crops and animals in sustainable agricultural production systems on small farms in rural areas. 

Buffaloes raising as part of small-farm agricultural systems has positive effects on the concept of social and economic sustainability, and consequently on rural development.  Buffaloes are usually looked after by the women, old folks, and children, who are not employed otherwise.  Old folks in the rural family feel that they are useful and needed when tending buffaloes.  One of the major reasons for the rural people who choose to remain at home during the dry season or do not go to work in cities is that they have to look after their buffaloes or other livestock.

Contributions of Buffalo to Rural Economy of Thailand

Self-Sufficiency Economy

In the mixed crop-livestock farming systems in rural areas such as that in Thailand, especially in the Northeast Region, buffalo is a major component contributing to the self-sufficiency features of the farming systems.  A self-sufficient economy is a concept which has been strongly emphasized by His Majesty the King of Thailand, especially during the period following recent economic crisis in Asia.

About 60-70% of buffaloes are raised by farmers in the Northeast (NE) region of Thailand.  At present much rice production in the lowland rain-fed areas of Thailand still depends on the use of draught buffaloes for land preparation, transportation, etc.  The use of buffaloes for draught power is quite suitable economically and socially, especially where farmers live in remote areas and own only small parcels of land, while family labor is usually available at planting time.

In most parts of Thailand, especially the NE region, village farmers who generally raise 2 to 5 buffaloes, usually set aside small plots of land of 0.2 to 1 ha for ruminant grazing to supplement other sources of grazing areas available in the village such as paddy fields.  In general, buffalo and cattle depend mainly on rice straw and stubble, while other crop residues such as corn stalk, cassava and kenaf leaves, etc, also provide substantial sources of roughage, especially during the dry season.  No concentrate or other supplements are given to bovine animals.  Animals are generally kept under the house during the night where they are more protected from thieves.  There are virtually no cash inputs used and most tending is done by family labor including women, children or old folks.

Health care for buffalo is very minimal.  Some may be vaccinated against certain infectious diseases, but most are not.  In general, farmers do not buy any medicine to treat sick animals, preferring to use traditional curing methods practiced since ancestral times.

Four to 6 metric tons of wet manure and urine can be obtained from a mature buffalo annually.  As most rural farmers cannot afford to buy chemical fertilizer to use for paddy production, buffalo manure has been used in the paddy field to sustain rice productivity.  It is clearly evident that in the rain-fed areas in spite of very little or no chemical fertilizer application, rice production of 1.5 to 2.0 ton on average per hectare has been sustained since time immemorial.  This is due mainly to the use of animal manure in paddy production by the village farmers.  As far as the rural farmers are concerned the use of chemical fertilizer is too expensive and too risky due to natural hazards and uncertainties, such as drought, flood, or plant diseases and pests, as well as fluctuating market price of paddy rice.

At least 36 million metric tons of rice straw and stubble are produced annually as a by product from paddy production (Chantalakhana, 1988), buffaloes and cattle utilize these residues for maintenance and growth.  The utilization of straw and stubble requires minimum labor since buffaloes are allowed to graze in the paddy field during post-harvest season.  While grazing in the field, animals drop manure and urine to increase soil fertility.  This is a very important aspect of small-farm productivity.  In short, buffaloes make use of the non-marketable by-products, straw and stubble in this case, and increase soil fertility through manure dropping.

Asset Building and Food Security

Buffaloes are considered by rural farmers as long-term investments and a source of inheritance from one generation to the next.  In general, village farmers do not go to the bank since they live in remote areas and, after all, they do not have excessive cash to deposit in the bank.  What they earn in cash is barely sufficient for their subsistence.  However, livestock is generally utilized by the farmers as a source of saving; chicken and pig are short-term savings while buffalo and cattle are long-term ones.  In case of crop failures due to drought or flood, buffaloes or cattle will be sold in order to obtain sufficient cash income to purchase a rice supply for year-round family consumption.  In the case of traditional ceremonies such as marriage or some religious rites, rural farmers will sell buffaloes for cash or slaughter for meat.

A case report by the Thai Department of Livestock Development (DLD) on Pan-Rua village, Surin Province, was a real prominent example showing the role of buffalo in providing food and financial security.  There were a little more than one hundred household families in Pan-Rua village from which 51 young men and women migrated to work in factories in other businesses in Bangkok some years before the economic crisis in 1997.  After the Thai economy collapsed all these young people from Pan-Rua village lost their jobs and had to return to their home village.  They had to depend on their families to survive, buffalo production which has been promoted by the DLD in Pan-Rua village offered them an opportunity for work to keep them busy and to help their families to earn more income.  For these young people, buffaloes not only offered them some work to do but also provided a psychological and social buffer during this period of hardship.

Social and Cultural Supports

Buffaloes are considered a companion and friend especially to children and old folks in rural village.  Since only a small number of buffaloes are raised per village household, the farmers take care of each animal individually and they call each of their buffaloes by name.  A name is usually given to each buffalo instead of hot-brand identification.  During school holidays, children often spend all day tending and playing with their buffaloes.  Children and buffaloes in rural farms grow up together.  Many village farmers would be rather reluctant to leave their household for a long period of time because they have to take care of their buffaloes and other livestock.  In other words, it can be said that buffaloes have a role to serve as a significant social factor in reducing the problem of farm migration into big cities.

Often buffaloes are used as tourist attractions in Thailand.  A very will-known example is the traditional buffalo racing and plowing contest in Chonburi, an eastern province of Thailand.  This tradition is held annually in October during which a large crowd of both Thai and overseas visitors travel to observe and enjoy this agricultural event.  Another exciting  event for foreign tourists is buffalo fighting in Samui Island, Surat Thani province in southern Thailand.  Buffalo fighting has been a traditional recreation of Thai farmers after rice harvest.  Although this tradition of buffalo fighting has become rare in the southern region due to greater interest of southern people in bull (cattle) fighting, buffalo fighting in Samui Island is still regularly organized, especially for tourist attraction.

Buffalo population: Declining Trends

Figures in table 1 show the number of buffalo in some Asian countries where buffalo populations had declined or reduced in average annual growth rates.  Countries such as China, Philippines, and Vietnam are those with reducing average annual growth rates in buffalo population and could reach negative annual growth rate in few years if there is no strong supports for promotion of buffalo production.  While Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand has already experienced declining trend of buffalo population, with average annual growth rates ranging from  - 0.6% per year for Laos to - 9.4% for Thailand.

It spite of the contributions buffaloes have made to the rural farming systems buffaloes remain more or less a neglected animal in relation to government and private investment in buffalo production development.  This is due to the fact that buffaloes are animals which belong mostly to poor developing nation, and trade of buffalo breeding stocks is of limited interest of most developed countries where research and development funding and supports are available for international scientists.  In developing countries, almost all of the buffaloes belong to resource-poor farmers who have little or no influence on government or administrative decisions, while large government livestock development programs are usually influenced by external assistance experts with no interest in buffaloes and no real understanding of traditional small farmers who usually have little or no education and easily influenced by government policies carried out by local officials.

It is well known that buffaloes under harsh conditions are capable of digesting fiber and cellulose better than cattle (Sasaki 1994).  Buffaloes are much more productive when roughage feeds become scarce during dry summer season since they require much less selective grazing, as compared to cattle.  But unfortunately the number of buffaloes such as that in Thailand has declined at alarming rates since 1983 (see Table 2), while beef cattle populations of imported breeds such as Brahman have increased.  Biologically cattle and buffalo are quite complementary rather than competitive, judging from their grazing behavior, digestive efficiency and other characteristics.  Hence, it can be expected that the causes of the decline of the buffalo population it Thailand are mostly non-technical in nature, which can be classified as (1) Socio-economic factors: for instance, lack of family labor or market price discrimination; (2) government policies: for example, mechanization or modernization of agricultural production; (3) institutional factors: for instance, lack of strong farmer cooperatives, inefficient livestock marketing system, and lack of effective livestock husbandry services; and (4) technical constraints: for example, lack of breeding bulls, low calving rates due to poor management and feeding, and castration of superior bulls.

Why does the buffalo population keep declining in Thailand? The answer is because of high rates of slaughter over the past 15 to 20 years.  There are at least two major reasons relating to the increased decline in the buffalo number as compared to the cattle population.  First, large numbers of slaughter cattle can be brought in from border areas.  It has been estimated by the DLD that least 800 thousand heads of cattle are brought in for beef consumption annually, while only a few thousand heads of buffaloes are available from border areas.  Second, before 2000 when the price of live buffaloes was discriminated by livestock trades, the price of live buffalo was only about half of that for cattle while the retail prices of cattle beef or buffalo beef were more or less the same.  Only recently, especially this year (2001) when the prices of live cattle and buffalo have become more comparable due to the high demand for breeding buffaloes.

It is interesting to note that in 1996 official statistics on the numbers of slaughtered cattle and buffaloes were 597 thousands and 158 thousands, respectively.  While the annual statistic of processed cattle and buffalo hide was 60,000 metric tons which could be converted into the total number of cattle and buffalo slaughtered of approximately 2 million heads (each animal produce at most 30 kg of hide).  This indicates that at least 1.2 million heads of slaughter cattle and buffalo were not included in the official records.  It can be expected that out of 1.2 million heads, the number of slaughter buffaloes was proportionately much higher, judging from the rates of buffalo population decline each year.  During the past few years increasing rates of slaughter of pregnant and breedable buffalo cows have reached a critical level which will bring this animal closer to extinction.

The decline in buffalo number is partly related to increased use of small (two-wheel) tractors in villages.  The Thai government supports mechanization in agricultural production by offering loan credits to farmers for small tractor purchase through the government’s Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).  Figures in Table 3 show the results of a monitoring study on the use of draught buffalo and small tractors in two village cases in Surin province.  Due to BAAC loans as well as cash from sale of buffaloes the ratios of small tractors for 1992 : 1988 was almost 5 : 1 in one village and 14 : 1 in another village.  Some of these tractors, however, were underutilized, while some were hire out since landholdings in these two villages were only 3 and 2.6 ha per household.  Some of these farmers purchased small tractors just to be “fashionable” like their neighbor, others were influenced by TV commercials of the tractor manufacturers.

Needy farmers also sold some of their buffaloes for cash.  Other reasons were insufficient grazing areas, lack of family labor for tending the animal, or a combination of these problems.

Use of buffalo vs. small tractor

The results from the village study in Surin province during 1988-1992, partly shown in table 3, showed that there were greater advantages of raising buffalo for draught power by farmers in rain-fed lowland mixed farming systems.  The buffalo has been used as a multi-purpose animal by farmers, and most important of all it supports farming sustainability, promotes rural equity and income earning, serves as assurance for food security in time of natural calamities.  Buffalo production offers and opportunity for poverty reduction in rural areas where living conditions and resources such as water and soil are less favorable such as that in Northeast Thailand.  An analysis to compare the usefulness of buffalo with small tractor is presented as following. 

 

 

Buffalo-Cattle Complementarity for Rural Farms

People who have not worked very closely with village farmers and mixed farming systems under rain-fed conditions such as that in Northeast Thailand may not understand why most farmers keep both buffalo and cattle, as well as some pigs and chickens on the same farm.  There are other reasons besides those already mentioned in the previous sections as rural farmers recognize the complementary characteristics of buffalo and cattle, both from biological and socio-economic aspects.

When buffalo and cattle are being raised in the same village conditions under which management and feeding levels are minimal, their productive performances are quite comparable.  Farmers raise cattle for sale while buffalo for draught power as well as for sale.  Growth rates and meat qualities of buffalo and Brahman cattle raised under the same environment are quite comparable, as well as their reproductive efficiency.  The buffalo, due to wallowing, is much less susceptible to ticks than Brahman cattle.

Buffaloes are known as having fewer sweat glands on body skin than cattle and, hence, they are expected to be less heat tolerant.  Buffaloes reduce heat stress by lying in mudholes or wallowing areas.  Buffaloes sometimes make wallowing areas or mudholes in pastures or near animal barns, which may create management problem.  However, in Thai villages where rice production is common, wallowing areas around paddy fields are generally available for buffalo.  Buffalo wallowing has not created environmental problems in rural areas.

An experiment was carried out at Kasetsart University in Thailand to compare fattening performances of buffaloes with dairy bull calves and Kamphaeng Saen (KPS) beef cattle.  All animals were fed individually in feeding stalls, where management and feeding practices were all the same.  Buffaloes were also kept in stalls without any wallowing.  Comparative data on growth and cost of growing these animals are shown in Table 4.  KPS beef (50% Charolais, 25% Brahman, 25% Thai breed) appeared to grow fastest, dairy beef (Holstein-Friesian>75%) the second, and buffalo the third.  However, the cost of fattening per kg body weight was lowest for buffalo.  Buffalo feeding appeared to be appropriate and profitable when the feeding level and feed quality were low.  The results from this study showed that buffalo feeding in villages can be a viable enterprise since buffalo grows well on crop residues and by-products, especially at the present time when prices of buffalo are more or less the same as that for crossbred cattle. 

 

Some positive characteristics of buffalo as compared to cattle, and vice versa, are presented as the following.

.Positive characteristics of village cattle are:

Development Supports for Sustainable  Buffalo production

Until today the buffaloes in Asia and Thailand are still largely the animals of the village, they have been neglected and underutilized.  In Thailand most national agencies and institutions have ignored and overlooked this animal.  Government development programs in the past have largely bypassed buffalo promotion, in favor of commercial livestock prevailing in industrialized countries.  This bias must be corrected and fair development supports have to be allocated for the promotion on buffalo raising and use by farmers in rural areas.  Some examples of possible development activities are discussed as the following.

Buffalo Banks

In Thailand as early as 1978 H.M. the King visited Prachin Buri and learned of small farmers’ suffering due to the serious shortage of work buffaloes for farming.  H.M. the King then initiated the first project called “Royal Initiated Cattle-and-Buffalo Bank Project” to provide work animals for those target farmers.

Meaning and Purpose of the Buffalo Banks. 

Usually, the word “bank” is understood as an institute dealing with money.  It may confuse some people who have never heard of the Buffalo Banks before.  His Majesty the King once described the Buffalo Banks as the collection and distribution of buffaloes in order to help those who do not have buffaloes for farming; it is not necessary to have the buildings, it needs only an organizer to handle the collection and disribution systematically.

The policy of the Buffalo Banks does not aim at supplying buffalo free of chare; otherwise there would be no need to set up the bank in the first place.  This policy should be clear to everyone involved.  The farmer who needs a buffalo from the Bank has to pay the Bank in some way depending on the regulations set up by the Bank.  This is to allow the Bank to be able to carry on its operation with sufficient operating fund. As for its objective it can be summarized that the prevailing Buffalo Banks serve the following purposes:

• To help increase the small farmers’ income.

• To allow the farmers to own buffaloes.

• To lend out work buffaloes at low rental rates.

• To promote the use of buffalo manure.

Some Banks may have the objectives other than what are already mentioned.  For example, the Office of Accelerating Rural Development expects the Buffalo Banks as one way to organize the farmers.

Activities of the Buffalo Banks.

Up till now, there have been many different Buffalo Banks throughout Thailand operated by different organizations, both government and private.  The Buffalo Banks can be roughly classified as (1) Royal Initiated Project mainly operated by the DLD, including also those projects in the Rural Poverty Alleviation Plan (NESDB, 1981), (2) other government projects, for instance provincial government projects or the Office of Accdelerating Rural Development projects, and (3) private organization project.

Although there are many Buffalo Banks in operation but the basic objectives and services fall more or less among the following.

Free lending.  The Bank may lend buffaloes to poor farmers free of charge.  This is practiced only occasionally.  In some areas the free lending is offered to military veterans.

For breeding.  The Bank provides female buffaloes to those who want to own the calves.  The farmers are required to hand in the first calf to the Bank and keep the second calf.  Some Banks may take only the first female calf.  The returned buffaloes and the calves will be redistributed to other customers.  Rules and regulations may vary among different Banks.

For work.  The Bank may lend out the buffalo to qualified farmers (i.e., farmers who are poor, do not have their own buffaloes, and have to pay high rent).

Lend-lease.  Those who want to own the buffaloes right away may obtain them from the Bank if they are qualified.  The installment plan is arranged for the farmers, and no interest is charged.  The period of the plan ranges from 3 to 5 years among various Banks.

Promotion of Buffalo Conservation and Development  Villages

In order to restore the interest of the villagers in buffalo raising, government agencies responsible for buffalo development need to take action to make the rural farmers realize the important role of buffalo in rural farming, and to fully utilize the buffalo in order to improve farm productivity and lower the cost of production.  There are villages throughout the country, especially in the Northeast, where farmers are still interested in buffalo raising.  They ought to be selected and promoted to serve as promotion centers for buffalo conservation and development.  These villages should receive priority in husbandry and veterinary services from the government agencies.  In 2000 the DLD initiated this project in 19 villages in 19 provinces in Northeast Thailand.  The major objectives of the project are : (1) to encourage voluntary participation of rural farmers in finding solutions to livestock production problems, (2) to reduce the decline of village buffalo population, (3) to create awareness among farmers of the importance of buffalo for the sustainability of the mixed crop-livestock farming systems in the Northeast, (4) to make the village a center for livestock technology transfer to farmers in other village, and (5) to promote conservation and sustainable development of buffalo production.  The 19 provinces, each with one village in this project, are : Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Roi Et, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Loei, and Maha Sarakham.

In 2000 the Department of Livestock Development organized an evaluation team to assess the villages success in achieving the project objectives, and the three most successful villages were given awards at the annual national buffalo convention, these were:

• Most Distinguished Award : Pan Rua village, Prasat district, Surin province,

• Second Award : Non Sawang village, Phu Viang district, Khon Kaen province, and

• Third Award : Kam Khon Ta village, Sai Moon district, Yasothon province.

Village Buffalo Emergency Fund

It is generally known that buffaloes are a long-term savings and asset of rural farmers.  In case of urgent need of money, for instance, in time of flood or drought or other natural calamities, in case of marriage or children entering Bhuddist monkhood, purchase of expensive items such as motorcycles or pick-up trucks, needy cash for other investments such as application for overseas work, farmers usually have to depend on the sale of buffaloes.  Some farmers sell buffalo cows because they need to buy fertilizer for crop production.  Sale of buffalo cows can be prevented if a village buffalo emergency funds could be set up to offer emergency loan by using breedable buffalo cows as a collateral.  The farmers could obtain necessary cash at half value of the buffalo cow, the value of a buffalo can be determined by a certain committee.  Farmer continue to keep “pawned” buffalo cow and hopefully the farmer would be able to pay back for the loan in the next year.  If the pawned cow produces a calf during the loan period, the calf should belong to the farmer.  This proposal should be able to slow down the sale of village buffalo cows as well as increasing the number of buffalo calves.  The detail operation procedures and the implementation of the village buffalo emergency funds could be carried out by a local administration such as Tambon (Sub-district) Administrative Organization (Ore Bore Toh), or a village committee, or other existing and already highly respected bodies at grassroot level.

Government Policies and Laws

As has been mentioned in previous section, some government policies, such as promotion of farm mechanization, bias for promotion on beef cattle raising, lack of fair and effective marketing systems for rural farmers, weak law enforcement concerning illegal slaughter of buffalo, etc. have contributed to the decline in buffalo population in Thailand during the last two decades.  It is very important for the government administrators to be fully aware of the serious possible extinction of the Thai buffalo.  It is also very important to sensitize the general public, as well as the politicians to recognize the importance of buffalo in rural economy and sustainable farming systems, and to realize the grave situation contributing to the dangerous declining of this valuable animal genetic resource.

            It is also very important that the government provide a clear policy and financial support to public institutions to increase their activities concerning buffalo research for development, to tourism and cultural organizations in promoting traditional and cultural ceremonies and sports involving buffalo as a regular ago-touristic attraction.

Support by International Organization

It is of the utmost importance for international development or research organizations to have clear understanding and unbiased information about the contributions of buffaloes, considering all aspects including cultural and socio-economic aspects which contribute to rural people and their economy.  It is very important to create awareness and to sensitize international development or technical personnel to appreciate the value of buffaloes from the rural farmers’ view.  Analytical studies should be carried out in detail to show how the buffalo’s roles in sustainable agriculture, food security, rural equity and asset building, and self-sufficiency economy as promoted by HM the King of Thailand.

There is a great need for regional and international organizations to promote buffalo conservation and development in order to inform concerned national governments and people how to make better use and careful management of this valuable resource.  Existing regional and world associations, such as Asian Buffalo Association (ABA) or World Buffalo Federation (WBF) ought to be strengthened so that they become more effective and more dynamic in the promotion of buffalo development, international collaboration, and information exchange among member countries.  During the past these organizations played only a limited role, i.e. organizing technical meetings once in every 2 to 4 year, due to lack of resources and national and international support.

Literatures Cited

Chantalakhana, C., 1988.  Role of buffalo in rural economy in the world.  In Proceedings of the II World Buffalo Congress, Vol. II (Part 1) ; ICAR, India.  pp. 111-119

Chantalakhana, C.  2001.  Contribution of water buffaloes in rural development.  Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Water Buffaloes for Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development.  Department of Livestock Development, Bangkok.  pp. 1-10.

Cockrill, W.R.  1994.  Present and future of buffalo production in the world.  Proceedings, Fifth World Buffalo Congress.  Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Sasaki, M.  1994.  Progress in Asian buffalo production : its implication to small farmer development.  Proceeding, First ABA (Asian Buffalo Association) Congress, Kasetsart University, Bangkok.  pp. 5-13.

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