Reverence of Community towards Grassroot Livestock Innovation: Responding to Stakeholders Need against Sub-Clinical Mastitis in Amreli District, Gujarat, India

Abstract

M astitis is a disease of economic importance causing havoc in dairy sector throughout the world. National mastitis control program envisages minimizing spread of infection, protecting mammary gland tissue and curtailing entry of pathogens through teat orifice. Farm productivity has been limited with lack of appropriate technologies to meet location specific requirements (Kadivendi et al., 2015). Periodic assessment of milk is important to know the health status of udder (Syed et al., 2009). Dairy farmers differ in undertaking risk, seeking alternative source of employment and level of motivation in any region. The enhanced occurrence of coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) is cause of concern (Reyher and Dohoo, 2011; El-Jakee et al., 2013). Incidence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) upto 50% in cows was reported in different regions (Gianneechini et al., 2002; Alhussien et al., 2015). In India, SCM occurs forty times more than clinical form with annual economic loss of Rs. 4365.32 crore (NAAS, 2013; Bhanderi et al., 2014). These findings reflect that SCM needs to be given adequate attention (Abrahmsen et al., Short Communication Abstract | Mastitis is an ailment of economic importance affecting livestock worldwide. Several initiatives have been initiated globally through investment of highly skilled human resource along with unconstrained financial support. The nature of disease, cost of medication, difficulties in reaching out to needy livestock population and accessibility to diagnostic facilities are main impediments. Innovations from creative individuals in similar setting can address such difficulties better. Hence, listening to farming communities will enhance the scope of intervention and leverage experimental learning in society. Indigenous livestock system sustained by outstanding traditional livestock holders can complement efforts of scientific community. Appreciating the role, mainstreaming of indigenous veterinary medications has been revitalized. However, successful evidence of communities' role in bringing out suitable researchable issues, and response to meet, share and discuss with them were limited. The study illustrates successful outcome to bring desired attention in this area. During this engagement with civil society a novel innovative medicine coded AHP/BSD/SCM in treatment of sub-clinical mastitis was evaluated and was found effective. A specific research question posed by indigenous healer provided different perspective to control mastitis. This research study offers art of engaging different stakeholders to construct a meaningful situation for expressing and implementing creative, affordable technologies. It highlights the role of society in sharing a solution that has been collectively preserved by them and essential direction to formal system.

People's Knowledge for Addressing Societal Needs: Lessons Learnt while Engaging Farming Communities as a Part of Research System

“…Gupta (2013) opined that ethical value by academic institutions towards local knowledge holders were not enforced adequately. Evidence was shared wherein engagement with civil society had brought out different challenges and indigenous healer had reported new role of medication which was earlier confirmed for scientific efficacy against mastitis, a common problem affecting welfare of livestock (Devgania et al, 2015). Learning from such findings illustrates nature of available knowledge with civil society and generation of research questions to scientific community.…”

Research System [IKRS] for Treatment of Bloat and its Significance towards Greenhouse Gas Emission: Jharkhand, India

“…Gupta et al (1997) argues that collaborative learning can be enjoyable and meaningful if only dialogues between farmers-scientists are matched with ethical parlance. Sharing of scientific results with healer and enabling interactive meeting with villagers resulted in sharing of empathetic livestock innovation (Devgania et al, 2015). These novel livestock medications had emerged with participation of outstanding knowledge holders and livestock owners by addressing livestock ailments (Ravikumar et al, 2016b).…”

“…This is in concurrence with Gupta (1997) who shared that participatory learning through peer group interaction offer alternatives or variations known to healers. Models of engaging community or stakeholders in disclosing such variations in novel medications were shared through interaction between healer and livestock farmers (Devgania et al, 2015). Technical, ethical and methodological challenges in IKRS have to be unearthed (McCorkle, 1995).…”

Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Research System (IKRS) and/with Livestock Health Intervention Program to Complement Natural Resource Conservation

“…An experimental research study at farmer's field for testing indigenous medication against mastitis revealed a refreshing approach. New knowledge was gained upon sharing scientific test results with community and knowledge holder (Devgania et al, 2015). Formal institutions need to gear up to evaluate IKRS scientifically at farmer's situation.…”