Indian farmers has a very diverse set of livelihood activities. It includes farming, farm labor, livestock rearing, trading etc. If we look at the facts, we will find India is primarily a rainfed country[1], 68% of our cultivable land comes under rainfed areas[1]. Surprisingly most of the cash crops are also sown in these areas. With a disturbed ecological one cannot say with complete certainty that rains(Monsoon) going to be enough. India is such a diverse and big country that rainfall patterns also change dramatically with change in geography. It is to an extent that some district might have received 20% more rainfall while neighboring district would have got 50% less than normal rainfall.Sadly such fluctuations can decidedly change the livelihood potential of a family in rural areas from agriculture activities.
Since last 3 years, the cash crops are failing because of lack of adequate rainfall. This implied a whole loss to rural economy with lack of demand in farm labor, increased demand for credit and reduction in agricultural production. These are all negative factors to reduce the money a rural family could have with a good crop. It is not that they do not have sense to mitigate that. They are one of the most intelligent people around and know very well how to feed their families. That is where livestock pitches in.
Across indian rural communities households keep domestic animals to save them from any financial insecurity. In addition to it they add to the nutritional aspect of rural households. 19th livestock census[2] indicates that Cattle,Buffalo and Goats form major portion of rural livestock rearing. In totality these three categories of animals constitute nearly 85% of total rural livestock. Poultry is a seperate segment which is also very very important in context of rural households.
Basic Problems with Rural livestock rearing
1. Lack of veterinary services: Biggest problem which people face is lack of on time veterinary services available. Sometimes they are available but not within the financial means of the family, this unavailablity of basic service results in mortality. Many times curable diseases like diarrhea results in death which inicates a very poor delivery of services.
2. Inadequate arrangements for feed and fodder: In rainfed areas of the country there is lack of perrenial availability of green fodder and for most of households feed is unaffordable hence during peak summer season farmers face challenge to feed their animals. Alternative green fodder like Azolla and Silage is still far away from reach and government systems are not innovative enough to implement such models.
There is a problem with market being unorganized and full of middlemen but still the basic problem remains how to keep animal alive and healthy. Until these issues are addressed we should not talk about skewed livestock market economics for farmers.
How Extension sevices could help address the issues:
1. Good community institutions: Community instituions form the very basis of service delivery to address basic livestock issues. Community has very good understanding of livestock issues and hence they can appreciate the efforts put in to address livestock issues through local resources. In this case second level institutions like cooperatives and societies could very well chip in.
2. Establishing a para veterinary network and medical infrastructure: To provide on time cost effective services, a para veterinary system need to be established along with medical infrastructure like maintaing cold chain and safe keeping of medicines. For this a experienced veterinary doctor and 3-4 para workers could be selected. Veterinary doctor can train para workers to do the treatmeant in his supervision but without his physical presence. Para veterinary workers can roam in their designated villages and will be on call all the time for treatmeants. This will be a on demand service. Veterinary doctor can plan and procure medicines and should regularly train para workers. For establishing infrastructure there would be requirement of approx Rs. 30000 to buy refrigeator and safe for medinice as well as to buy equipments.
3. Regular vaccinations of major disease outbreaks: Regular vaccines must be administered to the livestock in your work area to stop outbreaks and through this we can reduce atleast 50% of present mortality. If coverage improves the mortality rates can come down even further. Major vaccines which should be given regularly for FMD, HS&BQ, PPR, ET, Newcastle disease (Poultry).
4. Work in silage preparation and Azolla: Azolla and Silage could be a very healthy alternative source of nutrition to livestock during dry seasons. More and more farmers must be covered under this, since cost is not much, if needed initial subsidy can be given.
All of above can be done but this all must be financially viable. Institutions can obtain grants for setting up medical infrastructure and medicine/vaccine purchase. But how to sustain para workers should be worked out thouroughly. They can get fixed salary or they can work on incentive based system. Which ever seems best in organizations interest must be opted. One more thing try to regulary get in touch with government veterinary system at local level to build good rapport and charge minimalistic fee for treatment and vaccination as compared to government norms but also keep in mind about organizations sustainability of program.
- Vaibhav Pandey
javatute@gmail.com
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