Impact of Training on Livestock Technology Transfer for Rural Poor Farmers Livelihood Improvement in Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of training facilitated by Nuton Jibon Livelihood Improvement Project (NJLIP) under Social Development Foundation (SDF) for transfer livestock technologies and livelihood improvement for rural poor farmers in Bangladesh. A total of 650 farming households were selected by baseline survey during January 2018 to June 2018.The training and non-training beneficiaries were primary level educated and their family size (4.52) was little lower than the national average (4.9). Average age was 36.73 and 35.12 years for training and non-training farmers, respectively. The rate and amount of loan was found higher with respondent received training than without training. Adoption rate of technologies was higher than the level of idea on the concept of housing, feeding, breeding and marketing. The training beneficiaries improved knowledge and skill on feeding, management and health care of livestock and poultry. Training and demonstration are considered two strong tools for adoption and dissemination of livestock technology. Herd and flock size was increased by training beneficiaries than non-training beneficiaries. Beneficiaries having training on various IGAs have expanded their land and asset possession to a greater extent compared to non-training beneficiaries. Housing and sanitation condition of training beneficiaries were higher than non-training beneficiaries. Increased annual income of training and non-training households was 19.43% and 13.30% where income from different IGAs of livestock was 32.19% and 14.53%, respectively. Livestock were not extremely price sensitive but more sensitive on non-price factors logistic support like institutional support, quality of input and availability of input. Thus, training was treated as vital tools for transfer livestock technologies to influence the poor farmer’s livelihood improvement of training household than non-training household. SAARC J. Agric., 19(1): 223-235 (2021)

The Impact of Training; Technology Adoption and Improvement of Livelihood of Trained Livestock Farmers in Different Zones of Bangladesh

“…However, after being trained the annual income of all study areas improved and the highest improvement recorded was in Dhamrai Upazila (BDT 76133.33±4287.12) followed by Naikhongchhari Upazila (BDT 66850.00±21374.64) and was found statistically significant (p<0.05). The change in annual income of all areas was BDT 65700.00±17309.35 and was also found statistically significant (p<0.05) which agreed with the argument postulated by Hossain et al [6] and Akteruzzaman et al [11] when they stated that training exposure earned more money than the farmers having non-training and also earned more money than before. Moreover, the overall annual expenditure also increased (BDT 26175.00±2135.79) and was found statistically significant (p<0.05).…”

“…However, only 13.75% of farmers reported that their amount of cash in the bank increased. The increase in all kinds of livelihood assets of farmers indicated that training exposure helped to improve their livelihood status and this is in agreement with the argument postulated by Hossain et al [6] when they stated that training exposure improved the livelihood assets [16].…”

“…From the respondents interviewed, (66.25%) were males and were also the majority as compared to female who constituted (33.75%). The average age of the livestock farmers was 37.10±0.86 years which was almost similar to Hossain et al [6] who reported the average age of the respondent was 36.73. The average years of schooling were 9.05±0.24 years indicating that the livestock farmers were moderately educated.…”

“…Agriculture was the main occupation and 72.50% of livestock farmers found agriculture as their main occupation. The average family member was 5.10±0.19 which was almost the same as Hossain et al [6] who found the average family size of the respondent was 4.77. The highest number of family members per household was found in Dhamrai Upazila (5.97±0.41) and the lowest was in Jessore Sadar Upazila (4.57±0.14).…”

“…Whilst, on the other hand, the production system of native chickens did not change very much as most of the native chickens are still raised under a low input system and this has resulted in their productivity remaining low. Therefore, in order to develop the livestock sector in Bangladesh, new strategies need to be adopted and the dissemination of livestock technologies and training are important tools for the development of this sector as alluded by Hossain et al [6]. As pointed out by Sharma et al [7], training can expedite the development of the behavior of farmers towards the adoption of livestock technology and this will resultantly improve livestock rearing by them.…”