HOW TO INCREASE THE INCOME OF LIVESTOCK FARMER’S IN INDIA?
Md, Masood, Khan, Durrani1and S.B. Prasanna2 Department of Livestock Production Management, Veterinary College, Hebbal, Bengaluru, KVAFSU, BIDAR. Email id:drkhan1084@gmail.com Ph no: 9535730197
ABSTRACT
India is an agricultural country in which more than 70 percent of the population is residing in the rural areas and their primary occupation is agriculture. But due to the uncertainty of monsoons, agriculture had become a gamble for the farmers hence in difficult times during crop failure; livestock plays an important supportive role. Livestock farming became an integral part of crop farming and contributes to farmer’s nutritional security and helps in poverty alleviation through increased household income. The returns from livestock especially dairying and small ruminants farming like sheep and goats as small and medium holdings will be highly sustainable. The improvement in this sector results in more balanced development of the rural economy and improvement in economic status of rural population. In my opinion small ruminants farming like sheep and goats farming will be the better choice for the farmer as compared to dairy farming to increase the economic status of farmers in association with agriculture. Being a veterinary officer I worked for the welfare of farmers in rural areas since many years. In this article, I will be sharing a success story of a farmer who became a unique example in the eyes of many farmers in small ruminant farming. A farm was established by a farmer named Mr. Patel during the year 2017 with an initial inception of 40 each sheep and goats in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka state. The goat breed is Osmanabadi and sheep breed is Deccani .The farm was established with the help of Canara bank funding 18 lakhs. The animals were maintained on Napier co4 and Maize fodder with concentrate feed of Nandini (KMF) and kept in the semi intensive system of farming.
Key words: livestock farming, small ruminants, sheep, Osmanabadi, goats, Deccani, semi intensive system.
1 M. V. Sc., Scholar, 2Associate Professor & Head.
Small ruminants play an important role in the Indian economy. India ranks 2nd in goats and 3rd in sheep population next to china. It provides livelihood to two-third of rural community. In small ruminants sheep and goats are important species of livestock for India. They contribute greatly to the agrarian economy, especially in areas where crop and dairy farming are not economical and difficult. It plays an important role in the livelihood of a large proportion of small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. It is estimated that about 18 million people are employed in the livestock sector in principle occupation. Income from livestock and poultry enterprises contributes as high as 10% of the total national income and nearly 50% of agricultural sector income. Advantages of sheep and goat farming as follows:
Small ruminants are adapted to different agro-climatic conditions with low cost of maintenance, short term return and low risk and better suited for small and marginal farmers. They can well thrive in conditions where cows and buffaloes cannot sustain. Being smaller in size and with larger surface area goats are well adapted to high temperature in arid and Semi-arid areas with sparse vegetation, bushes, shrubs and steeply sloped mountainous which are not suited for cattle . Special feeding habits with mobile upper lips and highly prehensile tongue can take foliage which is not available to other livestock species. They are highly disease resistant. No expensive investment for buildings equipment is needed and suitable for marginal and small scale farmers.
Sheep are mostly reared for wool and meat. Whereas goats are reared for meat as well as milk purpose.Goat is termed as walking refrigerator for the storage of milk and can be milked number of times in a day. Nowadays goat milk is gaining more importance in the Indian market, whereas milk from sheep is of limited importance and that too in very limited areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is easy to digest than cow milk because of small fat globules and is naturally homogenized. But Indian sheep are not regarded as dairy sheep. Sheep skin and manure constitute important sources of earning particularly in southern India. Sheep skin in the form of leather and leather products is also been exported on large scale. Basically Sheep are very much compatible for breeding because of their hardiness and adaptability to dry conditions. The north-western and southern peninsular regions of the country have a large concentration of sheep. In the tropical country like India, they are non-seasonal breeders and can be made to lamb throughout the year. So rearing of small ruminants is one of the important and much needed sources of livelihood for the people living in the rural areas. One can start rearing of small ruminants in a small scale without heavy investment or he may start on commercial scale with the help of financial support by any rural banks. In this process of development the role of veterinaranian attains a prime important. Work without proper planning is an incomplete work and plan without proper guidance is not a complete work. So here comes the role of veterinarian. Hence small ruminant farming is an important tool to the farmer to increase their income and it also helps them to improve their living standards. It will also help to combat poverty and unemployment in the rural areas. The importance of sheep and goat farming and systematic approach to start a farm with a proper knowledge of management is given by a veterinary officer on the village level to encourage farmers to establish their own farm successfully.
SWOT ANALYSIS
| STRENGTHS | WEAKNESS |
| 1. India is having the second highest number of
Sheep & Goat. (After China). 2. Extraordinary hardiness and ability to adapt to the most harsh regions and facility of movement in rugged and harsher terrains 3. Indigenous breeds with good potential 4. Marketing potential for wool and meat. 5. Regulatory compliance. |
1. Unorganised structure of sector.
2. Lack of marketing infrastructure facilities for Value addition such as meat processing, warehousing, Cold storage, refrigerated vehicles 3. Absence of Public Private Partnership. 4. Lack of demand driven interventions 5. Scarcity of good breeding stock, |
| OPPORTUNITIES | THREATS |
| 1. The growing demand of products
2. Low start-up cost 3. Integrated Systems Farming/ Mixed Species Farming 4. Untapped potential for the export & value Added products. 5. Paradigm shift in Government policies. |
1. Extreme climatic conditions and natural
Calamities. 2. Invasion of diseases 3. Depletion of natural resources (pastural land) 4. Urbanisation. 5. Tax regulations for marketing and other Transactions.
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METHODOLOGY
A CASE STUDY OF SUCCESS STORY
A success story of a farmer who had successfully succeeded in sheep and goat farming under semi intensive system of rearing in Kalaburagi District of Karnataka State by a farmer Ismail Patel. The farm was established during the year 2016 with an initial inception of 30 each sheep and goats .The goat breed is Osmanabadi and sheep breed is Deccani. Later the farm was established with the help of Canara bank funding 18 lakhs. The animals were maintained on Napier co3 and Maize fodder with concentrate feed of Nandini (KMF). It is the type of semi intensive system of rearing as the animals was stalled and offered supplements and harvested fodder in the evening hours and during day time from 10AM to 4PM animals were allowed to graze on the nearby pastures. This type of rearing management is best suitable for the hot climatic conditions unlike in Gulbarga and it will be very economical for the farmer when compared to intensive system of rearing because of hot climatic conditions. As the small ruminants are more suitable for grazing naturally .All the farm animals were routinely vaccinated as per the recommended protocols and were maintained under standard managemental conditions. All the animals in the farm were insured by the bank itself at rate fixed by the insurance company .In case of death of the animal the claim amount will be sanctioned to the financing authority (bank). In this process right from the planning till the completion of the project there was continuous guidance given by the veterinary doctor to the farmer in all respect.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Earlier the farmer had faced lot of losses in agriculture due to the failure of monsoon as he was totally dependent on the agriculture for the source of income. On the advice, guidance and motivation given by a veterinarian, the farmer had succeeded in small ruminant farming and earning his livelihood sufficiently for his family.
Currently the strength of the farm is more than 350 sheep and 250 goats. The farmer is selling the animals at the one year of age on live weight basis at the rate of 350-400/kg body weight. The loan availed was 20 lakhs of which 2 lakhs from his contribution as margin money. The first year income was 11.88 lakhs and the loan amount paid was 8.42 lakhs. The net income after the loan repayment was 3.454 lakhs. In addition to this the sale of manure and other revenues were not added to net income. In the second year the net income after the loan repayment was more than 5 lakhs. This means clearly indicates that the small ruminants farming at the rural level proved to be a best source of earning livelihood for the farmers who are having land and also those who are landless. The successful implementation of any farms either small or large scale will be only possible with a proper guidance and training of farmer by a certified veterinarian.
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CONCLUSION:
To reach any destination successfully one needs a correct guidance that will be a prime reason behind the success of any farm or enterprise .With the dedication and hard work of the farmer and the proper use of knowledge imparted by a veterinarian, the farmer successfully establishment of his farm and he is now happily running the farm profitably.
Some advices to be considered to run a successful farming that will help to get maximum monetary benefits and good returns are:
- The shed should be well ventilated.
- Isolation during early stage along with dam for better growth and to avoid licking each other.
- During winter supplementation of heat is necessary to maintain the optimum temperature in the farm.
- Creep ration with high quality concentrate containing animal protein sources should be provided.
- High Quality concentrate containing animal protein sources is necessary.
- Periodical weighing and culling is compulsorily done.
- Periodical deworming, vaccination and Separation of sexes by 3 months of age are compulsory.
- Disbudding at 2weeks of age should be commonly followed as routine practice.
- Marketing should be done by 6-9 months of age.
- Exercise regularly for good health.
REFERENCES:
- NAP%20on%20Goat.pdf.
- Text book of Livestock Production Management by NSR SASTRY and CK THOMAS.
- E Resource -www.agriexam.com
- Real case study.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
- A special thanks to my HOD Department of LPM Veterinary College Hebbal Bengaluru and Guide, Dr. S B Prasanna who encouragement and guidance helped me to write this article and participate in the competition.
- Sincere thanks to Dr. Namdev Rathode Former AD VH Gulbarga whose support helps me to serve the rural community in better way and gain knowledge.
