Livelihood Improvement Of Farmers Research Articles

Livelihood Improvement of Poor Farmers through Goat Rearing

The present research was carried out to investigate the feeding and management practices of goat as well as income and livelihood improvement of farmers through goat rearing. For this experiment, a total of 45 respondents were randomly selected from three unions (Gazir Bhita, Kaichapur and Narail) of Haluaghat Upazila in Mymensingh district where 15 respondents from each unionwere randomly chosen. The data were collected through personal interviewing with pre-tested questionnaires. The study revealed that of the farmers were found either primary (46.7%) or below SSC (35.6%) levelof education.Majority of them were engaged in agricultural operation (57.8%) and others wereinvolved in service andbusiness. The farmers mainly depend on green grasses (33.3%) and tree leaves (31.1%) to feed their goats. Wheat bran was also given by 35.6% farmers for economic rearing of goats in the experimentalareas. The majordiseases of goatsin the studied areas were found skin disease(73.3%) and PPR (26.7%), respectively.The annual total cost of production pergoat was2154.00BDT, while gross return and net return from goatrearing per household were 4296.00BDT and 2142.00BDT, respectively. Annual food purchasing capacity changes from 50 to 55 percent. The social statusof the farmer’s family increases where educational status, employment for men, employment for women, social dignity andsocial acceptance were increased by35, 24, 58, 26 and 23% after 12 months through goat rearing in the selectedareas. The results clearly indicatethat goat rearing in Haluaghat upazila was very much profitable. Considering all these parameters, it is clearly found that the families which reared goat have the most rapid changes in terms of livelihood improvement.

Goat farming for livelihood improvement of tribal farmers at Gawandh tribal village of Maharashtra

Livestock is an important integral part to the sustainability of economy of this nation and livelihood improvement of farmers, especially resource poor tribal farmers. Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) programme is a developmental programme of Government of India meant solely for the development of tribal area throughout India. So a pilot study was made at Gawandh tribal village of Peint taluka, Nashik, Maharashtra for the economic upliftment and livelihood improvement of tribal people with the object of overall development of tribal area. It was revealed that implementation of goat farming by 20 women tribal farmers at Gawandh tribal village, located at Nashik district of Maharashtra has benefitted tribal beneficiary immensefully. Survey report revealed that the average total income of the farmers at the beginning of the programme was ` 15,180 from all sources like agriculture, daily wage, but after four years of continuing this programme, tribal woman farmer on an average earned ` 50,565 from goat farming, besides 12 goats were remaining in their heard. So, income of tribal farmers has become more than triple in a period of four years through rearing of goat. Performance of Osmanabadi goat in the agro-climatic condition of Nashik was also good with high growth and twinning per cent (53.40%).

Livelihood improvement of farmers through buffalo farming at Madarganj upazila of Bangladesh

Livelihood improvement of farmers through buffalo farming at Madarganj upazila of Bangladesh

Livelihood Improvement of Farmers through Agroforestry Practices in Teesta and Jamuna River Basins

Agroforestry is one of the most sustainable land management systems practiced around the world due to the socioeconomic benefits to farmers. In Bangladesh, farmers practice agroforestry, applying indigenous knowledge. The objectives of the study are to explore the dominant agroforestry systems and species preferred by and to assess the socio-economic impact of agroforestry technologies on their livelihoods of farmers of the Char dwellers in Jamuna and Teesta river basins. The study was conducted at four Char Upazillas such as Kazipur, Shariakandi, Kaunia and Dimla. A total 120 farmers were surveyed during the research period using structured questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions. The majority of the respondents (56.67%) having low score in adoption of traditional agroforestry practices. Most of the farmers (94.17%) in Teesta and Jamuna river basins are practicing traditional homestead agroforestry system. The most frequent strategy was boundary tree plantation (44.17%) followed by scattered tree plantation technique on composite planting system, and the alley of cropland. A total of 41 tree species are abundant in Char areas of Teesta and Januna basins. Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is widely adaptable in Bangladesh including Char areas followed by Mango (Mangifera indica) in homestead besides, Mahagony (Swietenia mahagoni) is another abundant species planted in croplands boundaries of Char areas along with Akashmoni (Acacia auriculiformis). The farmers mentioned different problems they were facing in practicing agroforestry but ‘shade cast by trees’ was the major problem. Majority farmers of Char areas plant trees in homestead for fruits (63.33%) and in cropland for fuel wood (95.83%) and timber production (82.50%). Farmers’ livelihoods improved enormously by practicing agroforestry as they have more access to food, fodder and fuel wood which is reflected by greater access to livelihood capitals except social capital. However, the farmers have experienced increased incidences of pests and diseases to annual crops and trees. Agroforestry practices increases species diversity, ensure economic return and sustain farmers’ livelihoods. The respondents, local leaders and experts suggested the constrains of adopting agroforestry in Char areas are lack of awareness, education, technical skills, capital, technical assistance, interest, marketing and transportation facilities at the study areas . The government should initiate some agroforestry focused projects, especially in the Char areas for the capacity building of the farmers and equip them with the new farming techniques through trainings and orientation workshops. The farmers should be provided scientific guidance about suitable tree species grown on agricultural land with field crops, their silvicultural operations and tree management practices along with free services and inputs including seeds, seedlings and loan schemes for promoting agroforestry.

Influence of Pig Farming in Livelihood Improvement of Farmers in Meghalaya

The study was designed to assess the socio-personal and economic attributes of pig farmers in West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya, India and to gauge the impact of pig farming on their livelihood improvement. Hundred farmers from two development blocks were selected randomly on the basis of proportionate random sampling and interviewed with the help of a structured, pre-tested, reliable and valid interview schedule. Tools of analysis include descriptive statistics such as percentages, means, ranges and correlation. Results of analysis revealed majority of the pig farmers (58.00%) to be male and in middle age category of 30-47 years with 10.13 years of farming experience. Certain socio-economic characteristics of the respondents were found to be significantly related to improvement in livelihood because of rearing livestock and poultry. Majority (74.00%) of the respondents felt that there was relatively large degree of improvement of their livelihood in terms of education and exposure.

Sweet gourd production under sandbar cropping practices: a case study in Sundorganj of Gaibandha District in Bangladesh

The present study analyzed the profitability of sweet gourd production under Sandbar Cropping Practice (SCP) and its impact on livelihood improvement of the farmers in Sundorgonj of Gaibandha district in Bangladesh. A total of 60 sweet gourd farmers were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Evidence showed that sweet gourd production under SCP was highly profitable and had a positive impact on livelihood improvement of farmers. Per hectare gross return of sweet gourd production for all sampled farmers was BDT 230506 and the net return was BDT 136391. The net return was the highest for small farmers and this was the lowest for large farmers. It was found that all kinds of livelihood assets of sampled farmers increased due to sweet gourd production under SCP. The availability of high quality HYV seeds was required to sustain sweet gourd production. The labour saving technology affordable by the farmers is suggested in addition to appropriate training facilities and sufficient extension services for the betterment of farmers.Progressive Agriculture 27 (3): 320-326, 2016