A survey on socioeconomic status of buffalo rearers in Katni district of Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Dairy farming plays an important role in improving the economy of farmer in the country. A survey study was conducted to sea the socioeconomic status of farmer, animal status and dairying practices in the periurbon and rural area of Katni district of Madhya Pradesh. Five blocks of Katni district were selected purposively for the survey study. Five villages from each block which possess sufficient cattle and buffalo population had been considered for the study. A total of 500 cattle and buffaloes rearers were selected from the district (20 Farmers from each village). A questionnaire was prepared and data were collected from individual cattle and buffalo owner through personal interview regarding the farmers age, education, land holding, fodder cultivation, herd size and milking practices of buffalo. Survey data revealed that the maximum surveyed respondents were below the age of 50 years and majority of them were either illiterate (23%) or educated up to junior school level. The most of the buffalo rears holding 1-2 hectare of land (35%) fallowed by medium (23%) and marginal (20.6%) farmers holding 2-4 ha and less then 1 ha land respectively. The large farmers holding above 4 ha land was less (13.6%) while landless were only 7.2%. Most of the respondents were not practicing the cultivation of green fodder and animal feeding mostly depends on wheat straw and paddy straw. Respondents occasionally provide common salt and rarely mineral mixture to their animals. Most of the farmers were having up to 10 animals in their houses. Majority of the buffaloes with respondent were medium yielders (49.2%) fallowed by poor (31.2%) and high yielders (19.6%). On the basis of our findings, it can be concluded that less educated, dominant population of low yielding animals, poor feeding and management practices are the main constraint of buffalo raising in the district.