Loading...
Please wait, while we are loading the content...
Similar Documents
Goat Based Integrated Farming System: Farmers’ Coping Strategy for Sustainable Livelihood Security in Arid Rajasthan
| Content Provider | Semantic Scholar |
|---|---|
| Author | Kumar, Shalander Upadhyay, Abhishek |
| Copyright Year | 2008 |
| Abstract | The paper analyses the case of goat based integrated farming system evolved by farmers as a coping strategy under water scarcity and changing resource situations in arid region of Rajasthan. It has also quantified the magnitude of linkages amongst different components of the farming system. The study was conducted in Nagaur district in arid Rajasthan. The primary data were collected from randomly selected 60 goat-keeping households and 25 farm households without goats for the year 20042005. The static input-output model was used to quantify the linkages. Instead of opting for transhumance system, the farmers were innovative to evolve a farming system that allowed sustainable production of grains for family as well as feed and fodder for maintaining their small ruminants. Three farming systems, namely, IRainfed goat based farming system, II-Partially irrigated goat based farming system and III-Rainfed crop based farming system were delineated. In response to the emerging resource and environmental conditions, goat farmers utilised the potential synergy of linkages among different components of the farming system. On rainfed farms, the maximum area in kharif season was occupied by crops, but farmers kept about 20 per cent of their land fallow for grazing the animals. During this period farmers sold their restricted flocks due to lack of grazing resources. It was revealed that crop and livestockespecially small ruminants – enterprises were integrated components of the farming systems in the study area. Grazing on common and own fallow lands and lopping from trees on owned and common land was a major source of fodder for the small ruminants and other livestock. The small ruminants with long daily hours of grazing provided nutrients to the current fallow and common lands through their droppings and dung. Goat rearing contributed the major share of the total farm income in both the goat based farming systems and provided livelihood security to the farm family in the poorly endowed arid region. Per hectare net returns of rainfed goat based farming system were 60 per cent higher than the crop based farming system. Diversification and strengthened linkages among different components of the farming system had a synergistic effect on the functioning of the entire farming system and resulted in higher income. However, the farmers of the existing goat production need to be finely tuned with the modern goat rearing practices. The innovative idea of farmers of keeping part of their land fallow for grazing their goats and sheep during the lean season needs to be used as an |
| Starting Page | 1 |
| Ending Page | 23 |
| Page Count | 23 |
| File Format | PDF HTM / HTML |
| Volume Number | 63 |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/204597/2/18-Summary%20III.pdf |
| Language | English |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
