Contribution of Indigenous Cattle to the livelihood of farmers in Karnataka

Abstract

The research aimed to assess three Indigenous breeds' contributions to farmers' livelihoods in Karnataka. Household income, family nourishment, farm nutrients, employment, security during uncertainties, and status symbols were taken as dimensions against which contributions were assessed. Data on Amrit Mahal, Hallikar, and Malnad Gidda breeds was collected from 360 livestock keepers from 2020 to 2023 within the breeding tracts of Karnataka. A Livelihood Contribution Index (LCI) was developed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to quantify the contributions. Results revealed that, on average, each household annually earned ?16876 from indigenous cattle, contributing 24.82% to family income. Additionally, these cattle generated 198 days of employment per year, provided 1.22 litres of milk daily per household, and produced 5.98 tons of farmyard manure annually. Security during uncertainties and status symbols were identified as the most significant contributions, while farm nourishment was the least. The study highlights the economic and social benefits of native cattle breeds, underscoring their role in enhancing sustainable livelihoods, with significant breed-specific differences in their contributions. Keywords: Breeding tract, Employment, Indigenous Cattle, Livelihood, Milk JEL Codes: Q00, Q01,Q10, Q19