Farmer First Approach for Improving Livestock Through Technological Interventions

India is a land of vast livestock resources, besides securing top most position in cattle population; it has pretty good position in poultry, meat, and other livestock enterprises. Livestock sector contributes highest in total agricultural GDP which is around 26.1 per cent and thereby contributing 3.9 per cent to total GDP. It serves as a lifeline since it provides livelihood to two-third of rural community giving employment to large population of unskilled youth. Livestock contributes 16 per cent to the income of small farm households as against the national average of 14 per cent for all rural households. Not only this, livestock sector provides employment to 8.8 per cent of population which largely comprises of landless and unskilled population.

Livestock farming provides lucrative income to the rural farm household. The farmers are in dire need of technology or good management practices that promote enhanced production and income to the farmers. In the livestock sector, the dairy sub-sector has always played an important role. This is quite evident from the words of Nanda Kumar, Chairman National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) that “Doubling farmers’ income by 2022 is impossible without dairy farming which has a CAGR of 19.6 per cent. 85 per cent of the farmers in India who are marginal and small own 45 per cent of the land, but 75 per cent of the bovine. So probably for a landless person, dairying is one of the best occupations”. Moreover no one is left untouched from the commendable position of India in the world in milk production accounting for 18.5 per cent of world production (789 million tons). The monetary value of this is more than the current combined value of rice and wheat, and this was achieved without subsidy and incentives. A

All these factors added to the thoughts of Robert Chambers et al., who had initiated the concept of Farmer First to all those involved in agricultural research, extension and development in 1989. The audience to this concept is wide, since most farmers were resource poor and the situation, they did farming were challenging. Hence Chambers (1989) put forth a new paradigm that puts forth mutually supporting concepts, values, methods and action between the researchers, extension specialist and farmers to which the term “Farmer First” was applied, distinguishing it from the conventional paradigm of “transfer of technology” which need to be spread and realised, with this background ICAR has sponsored implementation of Farmer FIRST project in the country at 52 institutions, TANUVAS being one.

Thus, TANUVAS has implemented the research project Farmer FIRST which project aims at enhancing the income of farmers by improving the livelihood of farmers through technological interventions in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu. The project was implemented in six villages wherein farmers owning livestock or poultry constitute 70 per cent of the village household. Considering the large proportion of livestock and poultry keepers the key informants of this village were ascertained on the technologies used for increased livestock production. The key informants revealed that the livestock farmers had less awareness on improved feeding methods for cattle, besides being not aware on possible solution for cattle infertility. Accordingly the project team provided knowledge and skill on the following areas in the year 2016-17, which include estrous synchronization, TANUVAS SMART mineral mixture, Mastigaurd a teat protect spray of TANUVAS, protein and mineral supplementation of sheep and goats, balanced animal feeding and good animal health management, besides screening the cattle for A1 and A2 beta casein protein. Farmers also showed interest on establishing small poultry and quail units for additional income.

This article discuss the key impacts of these interventions under field conditions. Initially since farmers exhibited great interest in community hatching unit (incubator) they were trained on the functioning of incubators and hatching procedures and a total of eight interested framers were identified based on their experience in rearing backyard poultry and facilities at their home to maintain incubators of 120 to 140 egg capacity which was considered ideal for community use. It was interesting to note that the farmers learned the technique quickly and all the eight farmers practiced and promoted themselves as a rural entrepreneur addressing the community needs of providing chicks for sale and eggs for consumption. The farmers fixed the price of hatching egg as Rs. 10 per egg and Rs 40 to 45/day old chick. The average hatchability was found to be 65-75% on the total eggs set. The probable reasons for variation in hatchability was due to improper male: female, aged cocks and poor nutrition. The farmers earned a minimum of Rs. 3000 as profit per hatch by sale of chicks. Besides this enterprise provides a feeling of wellbeing within the family. Since the collection of eggs for hatching was through community approach, the practice improved the interpersonal relationship with fellow farmers in that village.

The villagers exhibited keen interest in small scale backyard poultry farming as a means of livelihood that ensured the household additional income, accordingly those farmers who had established their own cage for night shelter were given training in backyard poultry rearing and 147 farmers were identified and each were encouraged to take up backyard poultry rearing with 1550 Assel birds. They practiced free range system of management with night shelter. The birds produced 85-90 eggs per year. The body weight ranged from 1 to 1.2 Kg at 5-6 months of age and were sold at Rs. 200 per live bird, while the meat was sold at Rs. 280 – 300 per Kg. Eggs were sold at Rs. 10 per egg at farm gate. The income generated per hen was Rs. 900 per year. The enterprise improved the nutritional security of the farmers and household members including children by increased consumption of eggs and meat. The birds showed reduced mortality of .5 per cent that too due to predation in day time while scavenging. The birds were scavengers and farmers provided cumbu, maize grits, rice etc., in addition to the scavenging resource. The BYP enterprise has motivated farmers and more villagers are seeking training and has expressed willingness to establish the backyard poultry rearing.

Another interesting enterprise they showed keenness to establish was Japanese quail farming. The villagers were new to the enterprise in terms of rearing and hence were trained in its feeding, breeding, management and disease control measures besides marketing. 9700 quails were provided in six batches to 49 farmers of the selected six villages to motivate them. The farmers had to establish their own sheds. Few farmers even showed innovations in developing sheds with the use of abandoned old vehicles. Critical resources like feed, feeder and waterer were provided. To understand the sustainability the resource such as day old chicks and feed were withdrawn after six weeks. It was noticed that of the 49 farmers who initiated only 15 continued and sustained the practice. (30.61 per cent). These farmers marketed the quails in the village and to nearby peri-urban areas and recorded 10-15 per cent mortality (0-35 days) and a live weight of 180-210 gms (35 days) with an average feed consumption of 600gms per quail. The net income generated was Rs. 1600 per 100 quails.

The major income generating activity of the farmers was through milch cattle, infertility was considered as a major problem in the selected village, and hence the animals were screened for infertility in four of the selected six villages. Of the total animals screened 65 cattle was infertile of which 13 were synchronised with nano cream/patch and the rest 52 were synchronised with progesterone sponges. Comparatively the progesterone sponge showed positive and effective results under field conditions. I.e., of the 52 synchroionised 27 were pregnant and 27 calves were born resulting in 51.9 per cent conception. While the nano patch had adhesion problems and hence only one was pregnant out of 13. The average money spent on feed and housing of an infertile animal ranged from Rs.100 - 120 per day. The expenditure for the technological intervention works out to be Rs. 450/- per animal, resulting in yielding a calf and on an average a minimum of five liters of milk per animal per day generating an additional income of Rs.6000 per month. The technique of treating infertility with nano patch was not successful under field conditions and only one animal out of 13 maintained under intensive management showed positive results through the conception. Farmers also complained about skin patches which added to the sufferings of the animal. The scientist was informed on the issues for modification of the technology especially with the adhesive for refinement.

To support good dairy herd health, by overcoming micro-nutrient deficiency, regularise estrous signs and improve milk productivity of animals TANUVAS SMART mineral mixture was provided as a nutrient supplement @ 40 gms/animal/day over a period of three months. The farmers expressed a positive outcome by feeding TANUVAS SMAR mineral mixture. They stated cent per increase in milk yield by 450-480 ml per animal per day under normal feeding and management conditions cent. The farmers generated an additional revenue of Rs. 4099 through additional milk yield per lactation length.

Mastitis was yet another important problem encountered by the majority of dairy farmers. An innovative product “Mastiguard” was advocated as teat spray to zero down the occurrence of Mastitis. The dairy farmers of the six villages were demonstrated on the application and use of Mastigaurd. On understanding its benefit 200 farmers showed interest in the application of the teat spray. All the 200 farmers gave a positive response stating that the dairy animals were free from Mastitis during the application period of three months. Teat ulcers and inflammation was also not observed and hence animals showed good health and increased milk production during the period.