Loading...
Thesis
Browse
7 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access AN ASSESSMENT OF LIVESTOCK SERVICE DELIVERY AMONG DAIRY FARMERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2017-10) DEEPTHI, G; SHARMA, G.R.K(MAJOR); HARILAL, R; SURESH, JABSTRACT: Ex-post-facto research design was followed in the present investigation. Andhra Pradesh state was selected for the present study covering purposively selected three districts namely; Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, and Chittoor to cover the geographical distribution. Two mandals from each district and two villages from each mandal were selected randomly amounting a total of twelve villages and from each village ten dairy farmers are selected randomly, thus a total of 120 respondents were selected for the study. The data were collected personally with the help of a well-structured, pretested interview schedule, processed, analyzed and interpreted. Majority of the respondents were middle aged, illiterates and possessed medium family size with nuclear type family system and belonged to Backward Category. Dairy farming was the main occupation, while agriculture was taken up as subsidiary occupation with marginal category of land holding. Most of the respondents had medium experience in dairy farming possessed medium sized herd with medium level income. Majority of dairy farmers have membership in one of the organizations like village panchayat, Self-Help Groups, cooperative milk society, farmer’s organization and bank. Majority of the dairy farmers are approachable to V.Ds with medium distance from service delivery institution followed by Gopalamitra centres, R.L.Us and Veterinary Hospitals. Majority of respondents were in frequent contact with V.A.S and paravets for availing livestock services followed by Private Veterinarians in often access, Educational institutes ,Dairy co-operatives, M.C.Cs and quacks in rare access and never access to NGOs and most of the dairy farmers were satisfied with the services provided by V.A.S followed by paravets. Majority of dairy farmers in the study area were provided with production services followed by curative services, extension services, preventive services and diagnostic services. The respondents were satisfied to the services provided by different service providers mostly in production services followed by extension services, preventive services, curative services and diagnostic services. Majority of the dairy farmers had opinioned that there is medium level of effectiveness in livestock service delivery. Correlation analysis carried out between independent and dependent variables indicated that from among the independent variables education ,herd size ,distance from service delivery institution and mode of livestock service delivery had found to be positively correlated with the effectiveness of livestock service delivery, while age found to be negatively correlated with effectiveness of livestock service delivery. Regression analysis revealed that, the combined effect of independent variables on effectiveness of livestock service delivery explained that independent variables like information seeking behavior, distance from service delivery institution and mode of livestock service delivery contributed to most to the variation in effectiveness of livestock service delivery. Majority of respondents opinioned that inadequate availability of medicines and other infrastructural facilities in hospitals and subsidies provided for purchase of animals were not satisfactory and distant location of veterinary hospital/ veterinary care center is the major constraint with the livestock service delivery. while majority of the dairy farmers had opinioned that more number of veterinarians may be made available to improve animal breeding service delivery, i.e., in critical cases of parturition etc. followed by animal health services may be provided at the time of emergency by the veterinarians. Supply of fodder seeds based on climatic conditions and change of work times of hospital in accordance with farming activities were some of the suggestions opinioned by the dairy farmers towards delivery of livestock services in an effective and efficient way. Ensuring veterinary institutions nearer to the farmers habitat, timely availability of veterinary officials in the institution, improving working skills of paravets and gopalamitras by regular trainings, availability of enough medicines and other infrastructure as well as steps should be taken to reach different schemes to the farmers door steps etc. are some of the strategies recommended for effective livestock service delivery among dairy farmers.ThesisItem Open Access JOB COMPETENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN VETERINARIANS AS EXTENSION OFFICERS IN ANDHRAPRADESH - AN ANALYTICAL STUDY(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2017-12) DEEPIKA, KOYYANA; SUBRAHMANYESWARI, B(MAJOR); SHARMA, G.R.K; SURESH, JABSTRACT: The present study was undertaken with the main objective of assessing the "JOB COMPETENCE AND PERFORMANCE OF WOMEN VETERINARIANS AS EXTENSION OFFICERS IN ANDHRA PRADESH". Ex-post-facto research design was followed in the present investigation. A total of 120 Women Veterinary Assistant Surgeons (WVAS) working in the four zones of the state were selected through proportionate random sampling method. Thus a total of 15 WVAS from zone I, 23 WVAS from zone II, 24 WVAS from zone III and 58 WVAS from zone IV were selected to form the total sample size. The data were collected personally with the help of a questionnaire and the data were processed, analyzed and interpreted. Majority of the respondents were young aged, had an educational qualification of B.V.Sc & A.H and with a low level of experience in extension work. Most of the respondents had medium level of self reliance, work motivation, work load and accountability to clientele. Majority of the women veterinarians had access to medium level of facilities and resources in their working areas and with medium level of organizational climate and communication. On 14 villages, livestock population of 9500 and three subordinates under the area of jurisdiction and treating 950 cases per month. The WVAS mostly attended gynecological and extension trainings. Majority of the women veterinarians possessed medium level of job competence with medium level of technical knowledge, communicative ability, self development, empathy, supervision, adaptability, creativity and initiative. Majority of the WVAS possess medium level of job performance with medium knowledge of technical services and medium level of extension advisory services. Most of them also had medium levels of educational activities, planning of programmes, implementation of programmes, monitoring of programmes and evaluation of programmes in extension and advisory services (EAS) of the work they performed. Correlation analysis between independent and dependent variables revealed that accountability to clientele, work motivation, organizational climate, organizational communication and facilities & resources showed positive and significant relationship with the job competence of women veterinarians as extension officers. Accountability to clientele, self reliance, work motivation, organizational climate, organizational communication and facilities & resources were positively and significantly related with job performance of women veterinarians as extension officers. Whereas, the variable i.e. span of control was negatively and significantly related with job performance of women veterinarians as extension officers.Regression analysis revealed that all the independent variables put together explained about 22 per cent variation in the job competence of women veterinarians as extension officers. Organizational climate and communication, facilities & resources were contributed to most of the variation in the job competence of women veterinarians as extension officers. With regard to another dependent variable i.e. job performance, all the independent variables put together explained about 26 per cent of variation. Age, experience in extension work, organizational climate and communication were positively and significantly contributed to most of the variation in the job performance of women veterinarians as extension officers. Majority of the WVAS expressed constraints such as ‘inadequate knowledge on efficient and appropriate methodologies in extension activities, lack of trained village level extension workers, lack of time for extension services due to increased documentation work, lack of idea on preparation of extension information material, larger jurisdictions under control of WVAS, political interference in implementation of schemes, lack of skill based training on new farm technologies, lack of training on advances in Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Sciences, lack of support / faculty in working with other line department, lack of support from neighboring field veterinarians in organizing extension campaign, lack of inputs for preparation of client specific audio-visual aids, lack of availability of scientific literature, inadequate communication by the department with regard to advances in veterinary practices and lack of transport facility to remote areas’.ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON THE CAREER PREFERENCES OF UNDERGRADUATE VETERINARY STUDENTS OF ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2017-01) BHARADWAJA KRISHNA, MARELLA; SHARMA, G.R.K(MAJOR); HARILAL, R; SURESH, JABSTRACT: The present study was undertaken with the major objective of ascertaining the career preferences of undergraduate veterinary students of Andhra Pradesh. Ex-post-facto research design was followed in the study. List of students pursuing B.V.Sc &A.H in all the three veterinary colleges under Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University was obtained and a list of boys & girls was prepared year wise. From each year 5 boys and 5 girls were selected through simple random sampling. Thus 50 students were selected from Tirupati, Proddatur and Gannavaram colleges, respectively making a total of 150 students. The data was collected through a pre-tested and pre-structured questionnaire. Care was taken to have equal distribution of boys and girls from all the years as well as different social categories. The collected data were analyzed through latest statistical tools. Majority of the respondent’s hailed from nuclear families, urban background and possessed medium sized family. Majority of the respondents’ fathers were educated up to bachelor degree, settled in government sector with high income while mothers were illiterate and settled themselves as homemakers. Majority of the respondents had possessed medium levels of mass media exposure, achievement motivation with a OGPA of 7.00-7.99, shown less inclination to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities and were with an opinion that they are aware of available opportunities in animal husbandry sector with medium level of risk preference. Government veterinary doctor was ranked first by the respondents from among the career preferences followed by positions in research centres attached to veterinary colleges and research institutes, scientists in ICAR and other central research organizations, assistant professors in state veterinary/agriculture universities (SVUs/SAUs), wild life ecologist or conservation scientist, zoo veterinarian of state and central level, central government farms, quarantine units, military service [RVC, ITPB, SSB], research in private and multinational companies, banking sector, administrative services, doctors in milk plants, private practice-small animal clinics, abroad farm consultant, meat inspection officers, private practice-large animal clinics, private sector jobs, consultancy officer in food processing industry, insurance sector, extension officers in NGOs and political career (MLA/MP). It was also clearly evident that majority of the respondents preferred government sector careers followed by semi government and private sector careers respectively. Majority of the respondents had medium favourable attitude towards careers in veterinary profession followed by high and low favourable attitudes, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that gender, year of study, social category, education and occupation of parents, parents’ income, rural urban background, achievement motivation, overall grade point average, participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, mass media exposure, available opportunities and risk preference had shown positive and significant relationship where as family type and family size had shown positive and non-significant relationship with career preferences of undergraduate veterinary students. Gender, year of study, social category, education and occupation of parents, parent’s income, rural urban background, achievement motivation, participation in cocurricular and extracurricular activities, mass media exposure and risk preference had shown positive and significant relationship where as family type, family size, overall grade point average and available opportunities had shown positive and non-significant relationship with attitude of undergraduate veterinary students towards careers in veterinary profession.ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY TRAINING PROGRAMMES AMONG WOMEN SELF HELP GROUPS OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2017-01) REKHA, S; SHARMA, G.R.K(MAJOR); HARILAL, R; GANGARAJU, GABSTRACT: Livestock farming is one of the important activities undertaken by Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs). The present study was undertaken in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh to find out the effectiveness of Animal Husbandry training programmes among WSHGs. An ex-post facto research design was followed in the present study Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh was purposively selected for carrying out the study. Since animal husbandry is a major subsidiary occupation in the district and Sri Venkateswara veterinary university had organized many training programmes among the members of women self help group to improve the knowledge as well as skills in various aspects of animal husbandry practices in turn improve their livelihoods. Two mandals under trained category and two mandals under untrained category were selected purposively, while three villages from each mandal from both trained and untrained category were selected through random sampling method and from each village 10 respondents were selected randomly, thus to from a sample size of 120 comprising 60 respondents each from trained group and untrained group. The finding depicted that, in both trained and untrained groups, majority 48.34% and 46.66% were middle aged, while most of the respondents (30% and 33.34%) were illiterates under trained and untrained groups respectively. Majority (70.01% and 25.00%) of the respondents were positive high level of socio-economic status in trained and untrained group, respectively. Majority (23.33% and 66.67%) respondents were medium level of mass media exposure in trained and untrained groups respectively. Majority (55% and 43.33% ) of the respondents had medium extension contact under trained and untrained group respectively. Majority (68.33% and 51.67%) of the respondents were medium level of achievement motivation in trained and untrained group, respectively. Majority (53.33% and 51.67%) of the respondents had medium level of knowledge under trained and untrained group respectively. Majority (60% and 48.34%) of the respondents had medium level of adoption under trained and untrained groups respectively. Respondents from trained group possessed significantly higher levels of knowledge and adoption than the respondents from untrained group. The independent variables viz., education, socio-economic status, mass media exposure, extension contact and achievement motivation had positive and significant correlation with dependent variables viz., knowledge and adoption in both the groups. Age was positive and non-significantly correlated with knowledge in trained group and negative and non-significantly correlated with knowledge in untrained group whereas negative and non significantly correlated with adoption in trained and untrained groups. About 95% of the respondents had suggested that the place of training programme would be convenient for you attend is within your village 88.34% of the respondents had suggested in increasing the duration of training programme. About 86.67% of the respondents had seeked follow up activity followed by providing transport facility to attend the training programmes by 53.34% of the respondents and 41.66% has suggested that provision boarding & lodging facilities.ThesisItem Open Access A STUDY ON ADOPTION OF RECOMMENDED DAIRY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AMONG CROSSBRED CATTLE FARMERS IN SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2017-03) JANAKA CHAKRAVARTHY, K; SUBRAHMANYESWARI, B(MAJOR); SHARMA, G.R.K; JAGADEESWARA RAO, SABSTRACT: India has emerged as leading milk producer country in the world due to systematic approach through its stringent efforts, however, production potential per animal is very low. This low production in India is mainly due to lack or low level of adoption of improved animal husbandry practices by dairy farmers. In Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam district stands second in crossbred cattle population and the district is considered as one of the best areas in A.P for crossbred cattle rearing due to its suitability and adaptability to the agro-climatic zone of the district. Though crossbred cattle rearing was taken up by the farmers due to the factors like high yield, suitability and adaptability to the agro-climatic zone of the district, still milk production per animal is low i.e. 6.941 kg/day. In dairying, milk production not only depends on the best breeds, but also on efficient management through adoption of recommended scientific management practices. Hence a study has been planned entitled as “A study on adoption of recommended dairy management practices among crossbred cattle farmers in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh”. An ex-post facto study was adopted for the present study in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. In Srikakulam district, 180 crossbred cattle rearers from 36 villages of 12 mandals in three revenue divisions have been selected for the study through multistage sampling procedure. The data from the farmers was collected personally with the help of interview schedules and the findings were processed, analyzed and interpreted. Majority of the respondents in the study area belonged to middle age and for majority of the farmers agriculture was the main occupation and dairy was the subsidiary occupation. Majority of the respondents belonged to Backward Caste (BC), 43.88 per cent had high school education, and nearly half of the farmers were with small family size and nuclear family system. Thirty per cent of the crossbred cattle farmers were with small land holding and 45 per cent with small size livestock holdings. Majority of crossbred cattle farmers were with low level of milk production, low level of milk consumption, and were with low level of sale of milk. More than half of the of CB cattle farmers were with low level of dairy income. Majority of the farmers possessed mobile and television and nearly two third of farmers were members of milk co-operative societies. More than half of CB cattle farmers contacted frequently the extension worker/veterinarian and the frequently used information sources were television and newspaper. More than half of crossbred cattle farmers (57.22%) had medium level of knowledge. Practices of breeding like A.I. in cows, practice of inseminating cow during mid heat (AM-PM method), practice of checking cow for every 21 days for heat symptoms and pregnancy diagnosis after A.I. in crossbred cattle adopted by almost all the CB cattle farmers. Almost all the CB cattle farmers adopted the practice of treatment for anoestrum & repeat breeding and nearly three fourth of respondents adopted drying of animals for 60-90 days and more than half of respondents adopted optimum service period (3-4 months after calving) in crossbred cattle. Feeding of concentrate mixture, extra ration to milch animals during advanced pregnancy and extra concentrates for lactating cow were adopted by more than 90 per cent of CB cattle farmers. Practice of addition of mineral mixture to the feed was adopted by only two third of CB cattle farmers. Cultivation of green fodder, feeding of green fodder to milch animals and providing balanced ration in proportion to produce of milch animals were adopted by nearly one third of CB cattle farmers. Chaffing of green fodder, fodder preservation and feeding of urea treated paddy straw were adopted by only few of CB cattle farmers in the study area. Proper housing to protect animals from adverse weather conditions and the practice cleaning of housing/shed regularly were adopted by almost all the farmers. More than half of crossbred cattle farmers practiced disinfection and fumigation of shed and premises and nearly three fourth of respondents adopted the practice of cooling devices. Majority of respondents adopted the practice of colostrum feeding to new born calf within half an hour and only few farmers practiced cutting & sealing of navel cord in aseptic conditions and feeding of calf starter. Majority practiced regular de-worming of calves and nearly three fourth of respondents practiced regular vaccination of calves. Practices like proper cleaning of udder before milking and cleaning and drying of utensils before using were adopted by all the CB cattle farmers. Dry milking practice was adopted by 41 per cent of farmers and full hand method of milking by nearly one fourth of the farmers. Practice of treatment of sick animals by qualified veterinarian in crossbred cattle was adopted by all the crossbred cattle farmers. Practices like deworming of adult crossbred cattle, vaccination of dairy animals against infectious diseases as per schedule, isolation of sick animals and insurance of cattle were adopted by more than 70 per cent of CB cattle farmers. Among the total farmers, 70 per cent had medium level of adoption in the study area. Majority of CB cattle farmers felt that cost of crossbred cattle was expensive, however, 83.89 per cent of farmers expressed that the milk yield from crossbred cattle was good. Majority of farmers perceived crossbred cattle rearing is profitable and crossbred cattle rearing was taken as social prestige by all the farmers. Nearly one third of farmers agreed that crossbred cattle is easy to manage than local cattle. Almost all the farmers agreed that crossbred cattle rearing is suitable to their agroecological conditions and cent per cent of crossbred cattle farmers of the study area agreed that crossbred cattle rearing is in accordance with the beliefs and traditions of their farming community and also suitable to cultural norms of farmers of their district. Nearly two third of farmers agreed that CB cattle rearing ensures greater security & less risk. Nearly one third farmers felt that health care management of crossbred cattle was easy and nearly half of the farmers felt that raising of crossbred calf was easy. Majority farmers felt that crossbred cattle rearing can be tried on limited basis before complete adoption i.e. on large scale and majority (83.89%) of the farmers observed that there was increase in milk production in crossbred cattle rearing and majority of the farmers expressed that benefits of crossbred cattle rearing were observable. Majority farmers agreed that crossbred cattle were reared with prediction of good profits and crossbred cattle rearing will improve the socioeconomic status of farmer than indigenous cattle. All the crossbred cattle farmers agreed that vaccination is important to prevent the incidence of diseases in crossbred cattle and deworming crossbred calf & cattle is a useful practice to prevent future economic loss to the farmer.High cost of crossbred cattle and high cost of feed ingredients occupied first rank among the constraints of breeding and feeding management practices. Shortage and high cost of labour was felt as a constraint which occupied first rank among the various constraints of management practices. Lack of awareness regarding health care practices was expressed as a constraint by 81.48 per cent of small farmers followed by medium (66.67%) and large (53.38%) category farmers, which occupied first rank among the various constraints of health care practices. Low price of milk was felt as a constraint by cent per cent of small and medium farmers followed by large (97.62%) category farmers, which occupied first rank among the constraints of marketing of milk.ThesisItem Open Access STATUS OF ORGANIC DAIRY FARMING - AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2017-01) NAIDU BAADIREDDY, S; SUBRAHMANYESWARI, B(MAJOR); SHARMA, G.R.K.; SRINIVASA RAO, TABSTRACT : An exploratory research design was adopted for the present study conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In India, the organic livestock and poultry standards have been notified by APEDA for implementation since 1st June, 2015, which, however, are not yet known to the stakeholders indicating the need to fill this gap. In order to promote organic dairy farming in view of raising demand for the organic products globally, a study has been planned to assess the status of organic dairy farming in Andhra Pradesh. The present study was undertaken in Visakhapatnam, Krishna and Chittoor districts of AP by selecting 20 dairy farmers, 10 field veterinarians and 20 consumers from each district and 30 scientific staff from three veterinary colleges i.e. Gannavaram, Tirupati and Proddatur 10 from each college of Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University. Thus a total of 60 dairy farmers, 60 veterinarians and 60 consumers have been selected through multistage sampling method for the study. The data from farmers, veterinarians and consumers was collected personally with the help of three separate interview schedules and the findings were processed, analyzed and interpreted. The salient features of the research study were as follows. Nearly three-fourth (73.33%) of the farmers in the study area were in the middle age and about one-third (36.67%) of the dairy farmers were graduates. More than half (55%) of the dairy farmers belonged to Open Category (OC). Majority of the dairy farmers belonged to small family (86.7%) and with nuclear type of family (85%). Cent per cent of the farmers were with agriculture and dairying as major and subsidiary occupations, respectively. More than half (61.67%) of the dairy farmers belonged to medium income group and nearly three fourth (73.33%) were with medium level of farming experience. Whereas, the average experience of the farmers in organic farming was 5.16 years. Cent per cent of the dairy farmers were having accessibility to information on organic farming. Whereas, more than half (58.33%) of the farmers expressed the need of information regarding marketing of organic produce. Less than haf (41.67%) of the farmers attended trainings conducted by government organizations on organic farming. However, majority (83.33%) expressed the need of trainings regarding Organic livestock Practices like production of organic manure, organic pesticides, organic feed and livestock health management in organic systems. Majority (65%) of the dairy farmers were large farmers with a land holding of more than 5 acres and the total land holding of the farmers was found to be 542 acres, among which 455 acres was in organic cultivation. Nearly half (46.67%) of the farmers were cultivating paddy, vegetables and fruits and about one-third of the dairy farmers had small herd size. Majority (90%) of the farmers were involved in preparation of compost and majority (91.70%) were selling organic produce directly to consumers. Nearly three-fourth (78.33%) of the farmers were not having any certified label to organic produce. Cent percent of the farmers reported that consumers were willing to pay higher prices for their organic produce and the consumers with education, high income and health consciousness were willing to pay higher prices for organic produce as reported by 83.33 per cent of organic farmers. Majority (96.7%) of the farmers were getting a price premium up to twenty per cent. Nearly one-fourth of the farmers were having certification for their organic produce. Nearly half (46.67) of the veterinarians in the study area were with young age and about 80 per cent of field veterinarians were with B.V.Sc and three-fourth of scientific staff with Ph.D qualification. About two-third (66.67%) of field veterinarians were Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and less than half (43.33%) of scientific staff were professors and about 56.67 per cent of veterinarians were with medium level of work experience. Field veterinarians were devoting half of the time to extension, whereas, scientific staff were devoting 60 per cent of time to teaching. Majority of the veterinarians were using news paper as information source regarding organic farming and none of the veterinarians in the study area received any training regarding organic livestock production. Majority of the veterinarians were willing to learn about organic livestock production, whereas, Cent per cent of field veterinarians were interested to learn about treatment of animals in organic ways. Among scientific staff, 83.33 per cent of veterinarians were interested to learn about organic livestock standards, feeding of animals and production of organic products. Majority (93.33%) of the field veterinarians thought that it is necessary for the veterinarians to know about alternative veterinary medicines other than allopathy. Majority (73.33%) of the field veterinarians mentioned that farmers using alternative medicines. Cent per cent of the field veterinarians were following only allopathy and moreover, all the field veterinarians reported that the farmers were preferring allopathy. More than half (60%) of the farmers had medium level of perception towards organic dairy standards followed by 21.67 and 18.33 per cent of farmers with high and low levels of perception towards organic dairy standards, respectively. Three-fourth of the veterinarians had medium level of perception towards organic dairy standards followed by 15 and 10 per cent of veterinarians with low and high levels of perception towards organic dairy standards, respectively. Both the stakeholders of organic dairy farming i.e. farmers and veterinarians have favorable perception towards organic dairy standards. Majority (53.33%) of the consumers in the study area belonged to young age and majority (73.33%) of them were males. Nearly three-fourth (71.67%) of the respondents had medium family size and about 95 per cent of the respondents with nuclear type of family. Nearly three-fourth (71.67%) of the consumers were graduates and nearly half (45%) of the respondents were government employees. More than half (61.67%) of the consumers were with medium income group. Majority (75%) of the respondents were non-vegetarians and all the consumers were aware of quality food products. Majority (66.67%) of the consumers perceived quality food product in terms of its appearance, freshness and smell and about half of the respondents were aware about “Quality food” through T.V and news paper. Cent per cent of the respondents were interested in quality food products, among which about two-third (66.66%) were interested towards quality food products due to health consciousness & affordability to buy. Quality food products are available to all the consumers of the study and just above half (53.33%) of the consumers were willing to pay 5-10 per cent price premium for quality food products. Majority of the consumers perceived quality of livestock products in terms of external characteristics only and none of the consumers were aware of the internal characteristics of quality livestock food products. About 41.67 per cent of the consumers perceived organic food as the food which is produced and processed without any chemical and pesticide usage. Organic food products are not available to more than three-fourth (78.33%) of the respondents and about 83.33 per cent of the respondents were not consuming any kind of organic food products. Majority (96%) of the consumers were not consuming organic food products because of non-availability of organic food products regularly. More than half (60%) of the consumers reported the price of organic food products as expensive. However, nearly three-fourth (71.67%) of the respondents were ready to purchase organic products even though there is frequent rise in price.ThesisItem Unknown STATUS OF ORGANIC DAIRY FARMING - AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN ANDHRA PRADESH(SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI – 517 502. (A.P) INDIA, 2017-01) NAIDU, BAADIREDDY S; SUBRAHMANYESWARI, B(MAJOR); SHARMA, G.R.K; SRINIVASA RAO, TABSTRACT : An exploratory research design was adopted for the present study conducted in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In India, the organic livestock and poultry standards have been notified by APEDA for implementation since 1st June, 2015, which, however, are not yet known to the stakeholders indicating the need to fill this gap. In order to promote organic dairy farming in view of raising demand for the organic products globally, a study has been planned to assess the status of organic dairy farming in Andhra Pradesh. The present study was undertaken in Visakhapatnam, Krishna and Chittoor districts of AP by selecting 20 dairy farmers, 10 field veterinarians and 20 consumers from each district and 30 scientific staff from three veterinary colleges i.e. Gannavaram, Tirupati and Proddatur 10 from each college of Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University. Thus a total of 60 dairy farmers, 60 veterinarians and 60 consumers have been selected through multistage sampling method for the study. The data from farmers, veterinarians and consumers was collected personally with the help of three separate interview schedules and the findings were processed, analyzed and interpreted. The salient features of the research study were as follows. Nearly three-fourth (73.33%) of the farmers in the study area were in the middle age and about one-third (36.67%) of the dairy farmers were graduates. More than half (55%) of the dairy farmers belonged to Open Category (OC). Majority of the dairy farmers belonged to small family (86.7%) and with nuclear type of family (85%). Cent per cent of the farmers were with agriculture and dairying as major and subsidiary occupations, respectively. More than half (61.67%) of the dairy farmers belonged to medium income group and nearly three fourth (73.33%) were with medium level of farming experience. Whereas, the average experience of the farmers in organic farming was 5.16 years. Cent per cent of the dairy farmers were having accessibility to information on organic farming. Whereas, more than half (58.33%) of the farmers expressed the need of information regarding marketing of organic produce. Less than haf (41.67%) of the farmers attended trainings conducted by government organizations on organic farming. However, majority (83.33%) expressed the need of trainings regarding Organic livestock Practices like production of organic manure, organic pesticides, organic feed and livestock health management in organic systems. Majority (65%) of the dairy farmers were large farmers with a land holding of more than 5 acres and the total land holding of the farmers was found to be 542 acres, among which 455 acres was in organic cultivation. Nearly half (46.67%) of the farmers were cultivating paddy, vegetables and fruits and about one-third of the dairy farmers had small herd size. Majority (90%) of the farmers were involved in preparation of compost and majority (91.70%) were selling organic produce directly to consumers. Nearly three-fourth (78.33%) of the farmers were not having any certified label to organic produce. Cent percent of the farmers reported that consumers were willing to pay higher prices for their organic produce and the consumers with education, high income and health consciousness were willing to pay higher prices for organic produce as reported by 83.33 per cent of organic farmers. Majority (96.7%) of the farmers were getting a price premium up to twenty per cent. Nearly one-fourth of the farmers were having certification for their organic produce. Nearly half (46.67) of the veterinarians in the study area were with young age and about 80 per cent of field veterinarians were with B.V.Sc and three-fourth of scientific staff with Ph.D qualification. About two-third (66.67%) of field veterinarians were Veterinary Assistant Surgeons and less than half (43.33%) of scientific staff were professors and about 56.67 per cent of veterinarians were with medium level of work experience. Field veterinarians were devoting half of the time to extension, whereas, scientific staff were devoting 60 per cent of time to teaching. Majority of the veterinarians were using news paper as information source regarding organic farming and none of the veterinarians in the study area received any training regarding organic livestock production. Majority of the veterinarians were willing to learn about organic livestock production, whereas, Cent per cent of field veterinarians were interested to learn about treatment of animals in organic ways. Among scientific staff, 83.33 per cent of veterinarians were interested to learn about organic livestock standards, feeding of animals and production of organic products. Majority (93.33%) of the field veterinarians thought that it is necessary for the veterinarians to know about alternative veterinary medicines other than allopathy. Majority (73.33%) of the field veterinarians mentioned that farmers using alternative medicines. Cent per cent of the field veterinarians were following only allopathy and moreover, all the field veterinarians reported that the farmers were preferring allopathy. More than half (60%) of the farmers had medium level of perception towards organic dairy standards followed by 21.67 and 18.33 per cent of farmers with high and low levels of perception towards organic dairy standards, respectively. Three-fourth of the veterinarians had medium level of perception towards organic dairy standards followed by 15 and 10 per cent of veterinarians with low and high levels of perception towards organic dairy standards, respectively. Both the stakeholders of organic dairy farming i.e. farmers and veterinarians have favorable perception towards organic dairy standards. Majority (53.33%) of the consumers in the study area belonged to young age and majority (73.33%) of them were males. Nearly three-fourth (71.67%) of the respondents had medium family size and about 95 per cent of the respondents with nuclear type of family. Nearly three-fourth (71.67%) of the consumers were graduates and nearly half (45%) of the respondents were government employees. More than half (61.67%) of the consumers were with medium income group. Majority (75%) of the respondents were non-vegetarians and all the consumers were aware of quality food products. Majority (66.67%) of the consumers perceived quality food product in terms of its appearance, freshness and smell and about half of the respondents were aware about “Quality food” through T.V and news paper. Cent per cent of the respondents were interested in quality food products, among which about two-third (66.66%) were interested towards quality food products due to health consciousness & affordability to buy. Quality food products are available to all the consumers of the study and just above half (53.33%) of the consumers were willing to pay 5-10 per cent price premium for quality food products. Majority of the consumers perceived quality of livestock products in terms of external characteristics only and none of the consumers were aware of the internal characteristics of quality livestock food products. About 41.67 per cent of the consumers perceived organic food as the food which is produced and processed without any chemical and pesticide usage. Organic food products are not available to more than three-fourth (78.33%) of the respondents and about 83.33 per cent of the respondents were not consuming any kind of organic food products. Majority (96%) of the consumers were not consuming organic food products because of non-availability of organic food products regularly. More than half (60%) of the consumers reported the price of organic food products as expensive. However, nearly three-fourth (71.67%) of the respondents were ready to purchase organic products even though there is frequent rise in price.