PROBLEMS OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS IN KOLAR DISTRICT

Abstract

Livestock farming refers to domesticated animals raised in a rural setting to provide produce and labour and products for consumption such as meat milk fur leather eggs and wool. India is the worlds largest livestock owner having about 535.78 million. In India livestock has contributed 4.11% of the GDP In this study livestock farmers taken for sampling are breeders of cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep. The main place where the interview took place was the Kolar and Bangapet cattle jatre or cattle fair which takes place from morning 4:00 AM and goes on till the next day 7:00 AM. Many of these cattle rearing farmers were selected as samples from 20 villages of four talukas namely Kplar, Bangapet, Mulbagal and Srinivaspur.. The research problem pointed to agriculture becoming more mechanized resulting in more fertile grasslands coming under cultivation. Research methodology consisted of using both primary as well as secondary data. Primary data was collected by means of the questionnaire and interview method and secondary data was collected from previously published articles and government reports. Sampling design comprised of simple random sampling and percentage method was used to analyze the collected data. The findings showed that the lack of safe shelter which could save the livestock from snakes, raccoons and other wild animals was not there. Certain remedies were suggested. To conclude these livestock farmers were an unhappy lot and wanted their basic problems of water scarcity and lack of fodder to be addressed.