LIVESTOCK INTERVENTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE LIVELIHOOD IN HILLY ECO-SYSTEM OF UTTARAKHAND

Abstract

The study was under taken to characterize the existing farming systems, analyze the constraints and option available in improved animal management practices for improving the farm household income in New Tehri district of Uttarakhand. The study was conducted in New Tehri district of Gharwal region in Uttrakhand State during 2011 to 2015. Ten villages each in Narendra Nagar Agriculture Development Block (ADB) and Thouldar, ADB were selected using stratified random sampling. In each village, ten farmers were selected. Therefore, hundred farmers in each cluster were selected and interviewed for the study. Results revealed that none of the farmers was belonging to medium and large farmers categorize in both the studied ADB. In general, household family member were more than four and their monthly income was less. Crop+dairy farming system was the most prevalent farming system in both the clusters. Non availability of quality and quantity green fodder round the year was the main constraint for low milk production. The intervention such as provision of technology for round the year fodder production, improved varieties of seeds of green fodder, feeding of mineral mixture, eradication of endoparasites and ectoparasites parasites using anthelmintics and use of heat inducing medicines improved 30-45% productive and reproductive performance in animals in Thouldar ADB and 36-53% in Narendernagar ADB. Interventions of improved animal management practices in animals resulted in the increase in total return over the existing practices in Crop + Livestock, Crop + Goatary +Livestock and Crop+ Goatry + Livestock + Horticulture was Rs.6274.2, 8780.8 and 4410 respectively in Thouldar ADB. The percentage increase in total return over existing practices was 33.0, 40.0 and 28.0 for Crop + Livestock, Crop + Goatary + Livestock and Crop + Goatry + Livestock + Horticulture respectively in Thouldar ADB. Comparatively the percentage increase in to total return over existing practices in Crop + Dairy was more in Thouldar ADB than Narendernagar ADB. Narendernagar ADB recorded higher percentage increase in to total return over existing practices in Crop + Goatary + Livestock and Crop + Goatry + Livestock + Horticulture. Change in income from goatary (%) was 69 and 71 in Crop + Goatary + Livestock and Crop + Goatary + Livestock + Horticulture respectively in Narendernagar ABD due to interventions in goat rearing.