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ThesisItem Open Access NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF FARM WOMEN IN ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS OF KERALA AND TAMIL NADU(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2023) DITTY MARIA DOMINIC; H. R. MeenaAbout two third of the labour in farming is constituted by women. Irrespective of their degree of affluence, they provide 14 to 18 hours of productive physical labour every day. Nutrition has notifying significance in case of farm women, because they have to bear and rear children along with carrying out agricultural production activities. Hence the present study focused on the nutritional status of farm women in aspirational districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The study was conducted in Wayanad, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram districts, which were listed as aspirational districts by NITI Aayog. From each aspirational district, two blocks were randomly selected. Two villages were selected from each block randomly and 30 households having at least 2 milch animals and cultivating in at least one crop season were selected from each village as respondents. Thus the total sample size was 360 households. Nutritional status of farm women was measured using Body Mass Index (BMI) (anthropometric measure). Household food security was measured using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (USAID, 2007), the factors affecting nutritional status was determined using exploratory factor analysis followed by multinomial regression. Behavioral intention to consume nutritious food was studied using Likert type scale based on theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985) and structural equation modeling was used for theory testing. A multi-lingual education module (folder) was developed on diet and nutrition of farm women and its perceived effectiveness was measured using the scale developed based on Guidelines for Pretesting and Evaluating Communication Materials given by Ministry of Health, Zambia and USAID, as it is cross country validated and reliability was high. Major findings of the study were as follows: Majority of the households (~67%) experienced various levels of food insecurity (moderate [35.83%] –mild [25.83%]-extreme level [5.28%]) and only 33 percent of the households were food secure. Majority of the respondents (59-95%) did not experience severe food insecurity. There is a significant but weak relationship between food security and nutritional status. All the three identified factors had significant influence in the nutritional status of farm women in both the states and cumulatively explained the variance in BMI up to 59 percentage. In both the states majority of the respondents had medium intention to consume nutritious food, followed by high intention. The model fit indicators shows that theory of planned behavior adequately predicts behavioral intention. The effectiveness of the module was perceived as high by the respondents in general. Hence the study reinforces the need for nutrition sensitive extension approaches.ThesisItem Open Access FARM DIVERSIFICATION IN HARYANA: AN APPRAISAL FOR FUTURE FARMING(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2023) ELIZABETH JOSE; K. PonnusamyContinuous mono cropping system threatens the sustainability of future agricultural production in terms of soil, water, climate and market parameters which warrants diversified farming system enabling farmers to use their resources efficiently with its ecological benefits. The present study was undertaken to explore the potential of farm diversification in the state of Haryana. The study was carried out during 2020-2022 in three agro ecological zones of Haryana state. One district from each agro-ecological zone was chosen followed by two blocks each in every district and two villages of selected block. With the help of expert opinion and progressive farmers, 15 farmers from each village were selected. Ex-post design and case study approach were followed. The data were collected using structured interview schedule with the sample size of 240 comprising 180 farmers and 60 experts. Data were analysed by frequency, percentage and Cumulative Square Root Technique. Two Delphi surveys were organized with 60 experts to identify future drivers of Haryana agriculture sector for the year 2030. The study revealed that Crop Diversification Index of the Haryana state was found to be decreasing (0.272(2010) to 0.262(2018)), while Farm Diversification Index of the state was found to be increasing (0.509(2010) to 0.546(2019)). Proximity to NCR (0.896), increased road density (0.857) and improved access to market information (0.801) were found to influence farm diversification extensively. Market uncertainties (0.876) and climate induced factors (0.796) were perceived to hinder the farm diversification considerably. Farm diversification with enterprises such as sheep (3-3.8), piggery (2.4-2.66), apiary (2.55), mushroom (4.8), ber (5-6) and cauliflower (2.6-5) provided better income in comparison to the traditional field crops. Kaithal district (2.46) reported the highest farm diversification efficiency followed by Bhiwani (1.88) and Hisar (1.64) districts. Availability of fertile soil, increased area under irrigation, better marketing and transportation facility were the major reasons for Kaithal to score the highest BC ratio compared to Hisar and Bhiwani. The study suggests the need for modification in government schemes (MPMV and BBY), making provision for adequate attractive incentives and timely payment of the compensation amount. Extension efforts should be fine-tuned for accelerating the adoption of enterprises such as poultry, piggery, fishery, apiary, mushroom, ber and cauliflower and sheep farming due to their potential for higher income generation and suitability for farm diversification. R and D efforts should be strengthened to enhance the income from dairy farming. Scenario forecasting on future farming of Haryana for the year 2030 reveals that if government policy support and technological up-gradation moves in an accelerated way (Shining future), there is a high chance of large scale production of food and non-food crops, milk, egg and meat. In addition, government policies are also focusing on the production of less water requiring crops, which in turn decelerate growth of paddy in this scenario. Study concludes that area based planning (based on SWOT analysis of different agro-ecological zones of Haryana) is the prime strategy to achieve farm diversification in the state. Farmer Producer Companies, Public Private Partnership, ICT tools, entrepreneurship and advanced farm machines should be the areas of attention for developing farming sector of Haryana state in a sustainable fashion.ThesisItem Open Access EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS OF KERALA(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2023) VANI CHANDRAN; Ritu ChakravartyThe present study was conducted in Kerala. Three districts were selected randomly each from Southern, Central and Northern Kerala. The respondent groups of the study were comprised of Farmers and Extension Personnel. The total sample size was 240, among that 180 were IFS farmers and 60 were officials. Data were collected through a well structured interview schedule. The collected data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical tools in order to draw meaningful conclusions. Most of the IFS farmers in Kerala belonged to old aged category and had completed education up to higher secondary. The primary occupation of the majority of the respondents were farming only and they were marginal farmers with small family size and herd size. Most of the farmers had medium level experience in IFS activities and had high mass media exposure with medium extension agency contact and extension participation. In the study area, nine IFS components were identified. Component analysis in terms of extent of adoption, integration of practices and contribution to household income revealed that, extent of adoption of identified components and contribution to annual household income varied from low to medium whereas extent of integration of available components varied from medium to low. Based on various combinations, eight different dairy based IFS systems were identified and dairy and crop were the dominant component in all systems both in terms of adoption as well as integration. The findings also pointed out that for establishing and maintaining various components in a unit, farmers were experiencing different technological needs and constraints. IFS farmers perceived the need for value addition technologies more than production technologies. In general, they preferred socially accepted low cost technologies with high income generation capacity, efficiency, flexibility, easy accessibility and permitting sustainable and maximum utilization of local resources. Lack of remunerative prices for farm produces and high cost of production were the top ranked constraints experienced by the farmers. Majority of the IFS farmers had a neutral to favourable attitude towards IFS. IFS offers multiple sources of income and guarantees supply of balanced and nutritious food to families which were the most important factors that influenced the attitude. The findings highlight the need for revamping of the existing policies, schemes, programs, to support institutional strengthening and capacity building of the farmers. This will help the farmers to expand their existing units by adding more components and technologies to their units. Further, this would overcome many constraints faced, thereby improving the productivity and profitability.ThesisItem Open Access INDIGENOUS CATTLE-REARING AMONG THE DAIRY FARMERS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY IN KARNATAKA(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2023) CHETHAN PATIL N. D.; K.S. KADIANThe present study entitled Indigenous cattle-rearing among the dairy farmers: An exploratory study in Karnataka was taken up with the aim of exploring livelihood of indigenous cattle keeping farmers, document existing management practices in rearing cattle, production performance, preferential traits of breeds, attitude towards rearing indigenous cattle, constraints in cattle-rearing and efforts of different agencies in conservation of indigenous cattle. Exploratory and ex-post facto research design with case study method was employed. The study was purposively conducted in six districts of Karnataka which is having three registered indigenous cattle breeds namely, Amritmahal, Hallikar and Malnad Gidda. One hundred twenty indigenous cattle owners from each breed were selected thereby making a total of 360 respondents. Data were collected using semistructured interview schedule by personal interview method. Respondents with a mean age of 42.96±0.45 years with primary to secondary school level education, nuclear family type with small to medium family size, having annual income of medium to the low, land holding of semi-medium to small, mass media exposure of very poor to poor and low to medium social participation, medium to low extension agency contact, low to medium level of risk orientation, innovative proneness and economic motivation. From indigenous cattle, each household earned an average of ₹16876 per annum, with a mean share of 24.82% in annual family income. Annually, around 198 man-days of employment were generated from indigenous cattle. The average daily consumption of indigenous cow milk was 1.22 liters/household. The annual mean FYM production was 5.98 tons per household. Around 56.67% of the respondents considered rearing indigenous cattle as the security against uncertainties and 63.33% symbolized social status. High adaptability was first ranked preferred trait in indigenous cattle followed by multi-utility, easy maintenance, traction power and religious/cultural sentiments. Significant differences were found between the breeds with respect to age at first calving, lactation length, dry period, inter-calving period and service period. Majority of the respondents using both natural service and artificial insemination in indigenous cattle breeding. Grazing cum stall feeding was commonly practiced feeding method in all the breeds except in Malnad Gidda, wherein 95% depend on open grazing. Most of the respondents feed concentrates and green fodder to indigenous cattle on seasonal/ production basis. Mixed type of cattle shed was commonly seen, located adjacent to farmers’ residence. Vaccination of indigenous cattle was widely practiced with occasional deworming. Cent per cent of respondents feed colostrum to new-born but only after expulsion of placenta. Knuckling and stripping were common milking methods being followed. Producer-Brokers-Buyers link was the common marketing channel for trade of indigenous cattle under unorganized local livestock market. Four separate case studies were also done including a Math, a goshala, a government cattle breeding farm and a progressive farmer, all of whom are working for conservation and development of indigenous breeds of Karnataka. The study concluded that indigenous cattle keeping happened to be one of the important livelihood sources for the farmers. Along with supplementing family income, they also play a major role in achieving the nutritional security, enriching land through FYM, providing employment opportunity around the year for better utilization of family labour and act as security during uncertainties. Majority of the respondents had neutral attitude towards rearing indigenous cattle and pluralistic agencies like SDAH, religious institutes, NGO and progressive farmers working for conservation of indigenous cattle; but it needs extension interventions for convergence of their efforts.ThesisItem Open Access COMPARATIVE STUDY ON EFFECTIVENESS OF EXTENSION SERVICE PROVIDERS IN ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SECTOR OF KARNATAKA(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2022) DASHARATH DODAMANI; Ponnusamy, KThe significant contribution of animal husbandry to food and nutritional security is remarkable despite experiencing low productivity, inefficient value chain, insufficient health care, deficit feed and fodder resources and limited guidance on good management practices. Extension services played critical role for this achievement. It is essential to examine the importance of animal husbandry extension service. In this context, a study was carried out in Karnataka during 2019-2022 with a randomly drawn sample size of 325 comprising 200 livestock farmers and 125 extension personnel. Semi-structured interview schedule and observation method were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test, principal component analysis and garret ranking were deployed to analyze the data. The respondents belonged to middle age group (74%), literacy upto high school (36%), small family size (58%), medium level of experience (52%) in livestock farming and practising agriculture as primary occupation (96%) with marginal land holding of one hectare (50%). Medium level herd size (46%) and medium (54 %) level of income of Rs.91000 to 1 lakh were observed. Cost of extension service delivered by public organization was perceived as reasonable (64%) with medium level of timeliness (52%). Fifty four per cent respondents expressed medium level of willingness to pay for extension service. Public extension service providers exhibited the higher level of effectiveness with mean index value of 0.50 in comparison to private and cooperative extension service providers. Amongst the five study districts, Dharwad district in Karnataka was found to be the most effective in public extension service delivery with a mean index value of 0.62. Bengaluru Rural district was found to be most effective with mean index value of 0.53 in private extension service providers. A mean index value of 0.53 was found for three districts (Belagavi, Dharwad and Hassan) together in case of extension service delivered by cooperatives. Age, education and experience and organizational commitment emerged as the highly significant factors affecting effectiveness in extension service delivery. However, time utilization, job satisfaction, job performance, service orientation and service commitment were positive and significant with effectiveness at 5 per cent level. Training participation, perceived work load, coordination, guidance and supervision, and facilities and resources were although positive variables, but none among them was found to be significantly related to effectiveness. The major constraints faced by the livestock farmers comprised of high treatment cost, non-availability of AI and PD services at door step/nearby area, non-availability of improved breeding bulls and low conception rate through AI. Extension personnel experienced lack of adequate skilled subordinate staff, political interference and poor job satisfaction as major constraints. The study suggests moving away from a system of stationary veterinary dispensaries and hospitals to providing services at farmers’ doorsteps, convergence with other agencies and individuals including cooperatives, NGOs and private entrepreneurs to provide seamless services to farmers. While sharpening the focus on disease control, the state must also contemplate towards cost recovery in service delivery to ensure its financial sustainability and to build genuine quality control mechanisms.ThesisItem Open Access CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT IN TRANS-GANGETIC PLAINS: A STAKEHOLDERS PERSPECTIVE(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2022) KHUSBOO RAJ; MEENA, H RThe rice wheat cropping system is one of the widely practiced cropping systems in India and about 90% of area is concentrated in Indo- Gangetic plain. About 500 MT biomass is produced in India, out of which 360 MT is used as fodder, raw material etc. and 140 MT is left as surplus in which 92 MT is burnt every year. In order to understand the utility of crop residue management, a study entitled “Crop Residue Management in Trans-Gangetic Plains: A Stakeholders Perspective” was carried out to study the present status and prospects of crop residue as resource for farming, Air Quality Index in crop residue burning area and its effect on dairy animal, accessibility and adoption of crop residue management technologies(CRMT) and its effect on farming and the constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of available crop residue management technologies. This study was conducted purposively in Trans-Gangetic plains region. Only Punjab and Haryana states purposively selected for investigation due to highest crop residue burning in last three years. A Karnal and Fatehabad district from Haryana, Sangrur and Bhatinda district from Punjab was selected on the basis of highest average crop residue burning in last three year. From each district of Punjab and Haryana, two block and from each block two villages were selected randomly. Finally from each village 10 respondents were selected randomly. Apart from farmers respondent, 10 official from each department such as Agriculture Department, Animal Husbandry Department,Custom Hiring Centres And Panchayati Raj Institutions was also selected for in-depth study. Thus total sample size was 320.Finding of the study revealed that the Majority (68.75%) of respondents were using Basmati paddy straw for dairy animal without any treatment. Nearly one third (75.62%) of respondents were using normal paddy straw for feed after treatment with 4% urea and 45-50% moisture improve the nutritive value by never digestibility palatability and Crude Protein Content. Majority (71.25%) of respondents perceived that Paddy straw can be used as manures after bedding for animal with urine and dung.78.12 per cent of respondents perceived that Crop residue are useful for conservation agriculture as it may reduce cost of production as well as improve soil health in long term. 76.87 per cent of total respondents were aware about satellite-based detection and prevention of stubble burning. Majority (69.37 %) of respondents were aware with the fine imposed to farmers between Rs 2,500 and Rs 15,000 by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for burning their paddy fields. Majority of respondents (75.60 %) agreed that customs hiring centres and straw bale units can also help farmers recover their operational costs. 77.60 per cent respondents were strongly agreed that biofuel plants emerging to combat stubble burning is a sustainable solution. In case of use of paddy stubble as mulch, initially (2017-18) only (11.25%) of respondents were practicing this but in year 2021-22 it increased to 30.62%. In year 2017-18, 58.75 per cent of respondents were practicing burning of stubble which increased by 5 per cent in year 2018-19 but again it showed declined in burning of crop residue by almost (4.5%) in year 2019-20. But surprisingly it again showed increasing trend of burning practices in year 2020-21 to 68.75 per cent. Mainly burning took place in 6 month of years i.e April, May, June, Oct, November and December which is post-harvest month of kharif and Rabi. Majority (51.87%) of respondents perceived that there was increase in dairy animals morbidity during the burning period. Happy seeder was identified as CRMT with highest adoption index (0.73), followed by Rotavator (0.63) Effectiveness index score of soil health improvement is having highest mean index value (0.85). “Lack of appropriate farm machinery for stubble management suitable for field preparation to grow vegetables” has emerged as most important technological constraint. constraints associated with low adoption of available CRMT identified. Hence, effort may be taken to minimize these constraints which can help in optimizing the appropriate technology with farmer’s need.ThesisItem Open Access SMART INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY ANIMALS(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2022) RAI, CHANDAN KUMAR; GOPAL SANKHALAThe efficiency and productivity of the Indian dairy farms is abysmally low, as lack of appropriate techniques of productive and reproductive management of dairy animals. The accurate and current record is very important in ensuring reproductive and productive efficiency of today’s dairy farms and today hardly any farmer maintains the record of their dairy farm and harness the advantage of ICT to obtain the accurate information pertaining to productive and reproductive management of dairy animals. Therefore, the present study envisages to develop the mobile App and smart information system for productive and reproductive management of dairy animals as well as assessment of knowledge of dairy farmers about productive and reproductive management, and to document farmers’ feedback about App. Based on proportionate stratified random sampling, total of 250 respondents were selected purposively from a cluster of five villages namely Samora, Garhi Gujran, Kamalpur Roran, Churni and Nagla Roran adopted under the Farmer-FIRST project. The respondents were habitual users’ of Android cell phone and having at least one dairy animal. The primary data was collected from the respondents by using the personal interview with the help of pretested interview schedule. Data of dairy animals on reproductive and productive parameters were collected with help of a developed Mobile App. A knowledge test was developed to assess the gain in knowledge of respondents. A Feedback index was developed to assess the feedback of farmers on mobile App. The collected data was compiled, tabulated and analysed by using SPSSv24 software, JAMOVI 2.3.13 software, mean, frequency, percentage, cumulative square root frequency (CSRF), EFA, CFA, and Path analysis to draw rational and meaningful conclusions. The study highlighted that most of the respondents (66.00%) belonged to the medium category (4–10 animals) of herd size, medium category (10.50 – 18.00 L) of milk production (51.20%), low category (<0.81) of productive animal ratio (52.00%), medium category (5.25– 11.14) of ICT tools utilization (66.00%), and medium category (2.80 – 8.00) of record maintaining behaviour (76.00%). Among productive traits, the average daily milk yield (litre) was 10.20 ± 0.18, 5.53 ± 0.20, and 7.89 ± 0.13 in the case of crossbred, indigenous cattle and buffalo, respectively. It was also found that the dry period (days) was 90.13 ± 1.26, 110.76 ± 3.14, and 122.15 ± 1.14 in the case of crossbred, indigenous cattle and buffalo, respectively. Among reproductive traits, the mean value of age at first calving (days) was 1250 ± 67, 1550.57 ± 9.42, and 1478 ± 4.11 in the case of crossbred, indigenous cattle and buffalo, respectively. It was also found that the mean value of service period (days) was 110 ± 0.99, 120.54 ± 2.61, and 113.69 ± 1.48 in case of crossbred, indigenous cattle and buffalo, respectively. The Mobile App was constructed, through which the dairy farmers register, login and maintain the feeding, calving, breeding, calf, milking, lactation, health, vaccination and mortality records of their animals for efficient dairy farming. The developed information system aided the farmers in prompt decision-making by providing the opportunities to evolve an efficient and economic communication methods. Results of hypothesis test through path diagram has indicated that independent variables have significant effect on dependent variables, supported all the hypotheses, and validate the information system. Attitude of dairy farmers towards the usage of SIS (Smart Information System) for productive and reproductive management of dairy animals was measured. It was found that most of the farmers (50.80%) have moderate attitude, 34.40 percent have favourable, and 14.80 percent have an unfavourable attitude towards usage of SIS (Smart Information System) for productive and reproductive management of dairy animals. A Knowledge test was developed to assess the gain in knowledge and it was found that there was significant difference in the knowledge of dairy farmers after pre and post exposure to the mobile App. Knowledge gain was found in terms of average daily milk yield (20.10), lactation length (10.90), lactation milk yield (19.10), peak yield (13.30), dry period (10.70), age at first calving (18.08), service period (19.20), service per conception (19.28), and calving intervals (22.80). The overall gain in mean knowledge score of respondents was 17.38. Nearly 64.80 percent of the respondents were in medium category of knowledge gain (knowledge score range from 9.05- 25.70). The independent variables like age (0.395), education (0.296), dairy farming experience (0.297), extension contact (0.395), mass media exposure (0.336), herd size (0.296), and milk production (0.304) were found to the significantly correlated with the knowledge gain (5.00% level of significance). Feedback of the respondents has been measured through feedback index and it was found that 48.80 percent had satisfied with use of mobile App. The majority of the respondents (78.40%) were highly satisfied with the credibility of information given through App. Most of the respondents (79.60%) perceived that the given information was up-to-date. Most of the respondents (68.40%) were highly satisfied with the understanding and clarity of App content and 84.40 percent of the respondents were highly satisfied with the subject matter of the content. Most of the farmers (78.80%) were highly satisfied with the suitability of the information in field conditions and perceived that it helps in decision making.ThesisItem Open Access AN APPRAISAL OF EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES FOR FARMING: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2022) ARATHY ASHOK; MEENA, H.R.Extension and Advisory Services (EAS) play a vital role in bridging productivity and income gap in agriculture and allied sectors. In spite of the pluralistic EAS provision, it is often criticized in terms of limited access, lack of demand driven service provision and poor downward accountability. Considering the evidences on changing role of women in agriculture and allied sectors, a gender inclusive EAS provision is considered as a highly desirable scenario for achieving sustainable agricultural production. The present study was undertaken to assess the access, preferences and impacts of EAS in crop-dairy mixed farming system in a gender perspective. Primary survey was conducted among 400 households from four randomly selected districts in Bihar viz; Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda and Samastipur. Data were collected from both male and female decision makers of the households with the help of interview schedule. Results of the study revealed a better level of access to institutional EAS related to crop farming, both for male (73.5 %) and female decision makers (61.75%) which is mainly sourced through targeted approaches by public agencies such as JEEViKA and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Considering dairy farming activities, access to EAS was relatively lower among male (9 %) and female decision makers (11.25 %). Major mode of EAS delivery in crop farming was through mobile phone and it covered 58 per cent and 53.25 per cent of male and female decision makers respectively. Compliance to information received through mobile phones was relatively lower among the respondents and the EAS access- EAS use gap was much wider among females. Though there was limited access to EAS in dairy farming, it was mainly through personal contact, among both male and female decision makers. Elicitation of farmers’ preference towards improved EAS provision through choice experiment method indicated that irrespective of gender, majority of the respondents preferred One system EAS (Single window delivery of crop and dairy EAS) with positive and significant willingness to pay (WTP). Gendered heterogeneity was observed in WTP for improved EAS scenario and female decision makers’ WTP for EAS was not significant. Male decision makers preferred private agencies and Non- Governmental Organizations over public agencies and doorstep delivery of services for farming with a significant WTP towards them. In order to estimate impact of EAS on technology adoption, farm productivity and net income from farming, Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) method was used. A significant positive impact of EAS use was found on adoption of improved varieties in wheat crop. Among the households with females having access to and use of EAS was found to have 7 per cent higher productivity in case of wheat crop. Impact of use of EAS on net income from wheat cultivation ranged between 8 to11 per cent. In case of dairy farming, use of EAS was found to have positive impact only in case of adoption of curative disease management practices among dairy animals and milk productivity of cows. Major conclusions from the study point towards the need for convergence of different stakeholder organizations for demand driven EAS provision. The study also recommended different strategies for gender mainstreaming in EAS provision.ThesisItem Open Access Human-wildlife conflict in the vicinity of Ranthambore tiger reserve: Farmers perspective(ICAR-NDRI, KARNAL, 2022) Meena, Deepak Chand; MEENA, B.S.Human-wildlife conflict is when interaction between humans and wildlife lead to negative results, such as loss of property, livelihoods, and even life. Defensive and retaliatory killing may eventually drive these species to extinction. There are 981 protected area and 52 tiger reserve area its covers about 5 percent of the land area and home to approximately 4.5 million people. In India, people have been a major component of the landscape for several centuries but widespread poverty, land hunger, predominance of agriculture and animal husbandry, and dependence on plant biomass for food, fodder and shelter have led them to exert tremendous pressures on already fragile protected areas. People in the surrounding protected area used to go inside protected area due to this they may come contact with wild animal and loss their life and livestock and wild animal not able to fulfil their requirement in their particular area so they enter in human settlement and destroyed their crops and killing livestock as well as human. Due to this conflict human tolerating major loss due to human wildlife conflict. Most of the villagers of surrounding protected area depends on forest areas for grazing of their animal and collection of resources like timber, grasses from the protected area. In the vicinity of protected area of Asia and Africa villagers loosing almost 15 percent of their agricultural production due to human wildlife conflict. Considering the above facts, the proposed study entitled “Human Wildlife Conflict in the Vicinity of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve: Farmers Perspective”. The study was carried out in the vicinity of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve due to highest number of villages (304) and human population (1 million) in the Eco-sensitive region of region of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Reserve area divided in two zone namely Critical Tiger Habitat Zone/Core Zone (Ranthambore National Park, Sawai Madhopur wildlife sanctuary, Sawai Mansingh wildlife sanctuary) and buffer zone (Kaila Devi wildlife sanctuary) both zone were selected and 18 villages from Critical Tiger Habitat and 12 villages from Buffer zone were selected randomly for this study. From each villages 12 respondents who are engaged with dairy animal and growing crops from last 10 years and 30 forest officials were considered as respondents. Thus, total 390 respondents were selected. Interview schedule was developed to identify the existing dairy practices and document the human wildlife conflict and strategies adopted by the farmers and forest official to minimize the conflict. And to measure the farmer’s perception towards losses and benefit of reserve area index was developed and for opportunity and challenges SWOT analysis by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to identify opportunity and challenges for livestock rearing in the vicinity of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. A study revealed that 41.38 per cent farmers were belong to old age groups (>50 years age) followed by 36.94 per cent farmer belong to middle age group. Average family size among per household is 6.58 and average distance of the villages from the boundary wall of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is 1.05 km. Majority (67.22%) of the farmers do not have insurance for their livestock and crops and annual average income of the respondents is 3.58 lakh. Farmers usually recognise the estrus sign like restlessness, bellowing, mounting, reduce feed in take in the buffalo and cattle and inseminated with the selected bull at early heat period. Majority (65.83) of livestock farmers in case of naval cord management of new born they simply cut by available knife/blade and apply dry fresh ash on that. Respondents used to collect non-timber forest product like grasses, fodder, medicinal product etc. and timber product for building material inside the tiger reserve premises. Maize crop (Garret Mean score 74.85) highly preferred crop by wild animals followed by guava and pearl millet. In the Rabi session farmers mostly grown four crops like wheat, mustard, gram and barley and highest 9.16 per cent loss occurred in the wheat crop and in Kharif session highest 17.59 per cent loss occurred in maize crop by wild animals in form of crop eating and crop raiding. In last five year total 335 incidents occurred with livestock among them highest 121 number of incidents happened with goat and in case of human a total 13 incidents happened with them by wild animal like tiger and leopard. Fencing around the crops and guarding to the crops and livestock was ranked first and second strategies to prevent human-wildlife conflict. Respondents having more perception for opinion to solve Human-Wildlife Conflict followed by respondents view towards protected area and in overall perception 40.56 per cent of respondents fall under medium category. SWOT analysis revealed that, ‘Ranthambore Tiger Reserve provides round the year ‘green fodder to the dairy animal within the permissible area’ was the major strength and ‘Human casualties, crop-raiding, and livestock depredation’ are the most serious nature of conflict’ was the major threat. Hence, the findings of the study may help the development agencies to formulate a plan of action to the sustainable development of the farmers as well as to conserve tiger reserve.
