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Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

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20221
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Subject: Poultry Science × Author: Dutta, Anuj × Start date: 2022 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.V.Sc. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Analysis of duck farming systems in Morigaon district of Assam
    (College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022) Dutta, Anuj; Mahanta, Joga Dev
    A survey study was conducted to analyze the duck farming systems in Morigaon district of Assam. For this, two villages from each of the six development blocks with higher duck population were selected and from each village 12 duck farmers were taken as respondents through snow-ball sampling technique. As such 12 duck farmers from 12 villages were interviewed for the purpose making the total sample size 144. Duck farmers having atleast 10 numbers of ducks of different ages and who were experienced in duck farming were considered for the present study as a duck farmer and was interviewed personally through pre-tested interview schedule by the investigator. Further participatory extension methods were deployed to elicit responses from the Key Informants and drawal of final conclusions for the study. Duck keeping was practiced by people from all social classes, regardless of their occupation, religion or educational background. People raised ducks primarily for their eggs and meat and kept their flocks close to their dwellings, involving every member of the family in the process. Majority (50.69%) of the farmers were from middle aged (36-50 years) group. Out of the total farmers under investigation 51.38% got qualification upto 10th standard. Majority (74.30%) of the farmers were from Hindu community. About 74.00% farmers had more than 10 years of experience in duck farming. The demographic distribution of ducks revealed the presence of eight distinctive groups of ducks viz. Pati, Graded, Khaki Campbell, White Pekin, Muscovy, Chara-Chemballi, Indian Runner and Nageswari. The majority of farmers maintained only one breed of duck and the desi breed Pati constituted the majority of duck population. The flock strength ranged from 15-150 numbers of ducks with a mean of 32.27 numbers. The majority (95.83%) of farmers kept a male to female sex ratio of 1:5. The natural incubators were broody duck or hen but few farmers practised artificial incubation. Majority (99.30%) of farmers did not clean eggs and candle the hatching eggs during the process of natural incubation. About 85.00% of duck farmers hatched their duck eggs during the month of April to July (84.84%) and only few farmers performed hatching throughout the year either through natural or artificial means of hatching. According to the size of the bird, a total of 10-12 and 14-18 numbers of hatching eggs were set under each broody hen and duck, respectively. The mean hatchability percentage was recorded as 86.24% with a range of 65.00 - 95.00%. Most of the farmers (92.36%) under study fed their duckling from second day of age onwards with raw ingredients like whole paddy grain, whole rice, broken rice, cooked rice, wheat bran and rice polish upto 4th week of age. Grower and adult ducks were reared by the farmers under scavenging or free range system. Majority (92.36%) of the farmers did not provide artificial warmth to the duckling during brooding period while few farmers (7.64%) provided artificial warmth upto 4 weeks of age. During day time duckling were confined in an open area surrounded by bamboo basket, fish trap or mosquito net where provision of drinking and feeding facilities were provided to save them from predators and wild birds. The majority (98.61%) of farmers followed free range system of rearing for adult ducks and allowed to scavenge them in the foraging field during day time. In the morning, evening and even in noon time supplementary feeds in the form of kitchen waste mixed with cooked rice and rice polish was provided. Another system of duck rearing in which a night holding pen was constructed on an elevated area amidst paddy fields, beels, ponds and other water logged areas to keep the adult ducks during night time. Few duck farmers (8.33%) adopted integrated duck cum fish farming. The major viral, bacterial and fungal diseases encountered in the surveyed area were duck plague, duck cholera, anatipestifer infection, hepatitis (aflatoxicosis) and botulism. Occasionally worm infestation was also found and mortality sometimes occurred due to predators. The mean mortality rate of 8.04% (0-20%) in ducklings, 1.55% (1-3%) in growers and 6.01% (0-10%) in adults was noticed. Majority of farmers (67.36%) did not consult veterinary doctor during the occurrence of any disease. Besides treating the ducks with common antibiotic, vitamin and mineral supplements, liver tonic, they also treated their ailing ducks with indigenous medications. None of the farmers vaccinated their ducks. The mean body weight of adult ducks recorded at 40 weeks of age for Pati, Khaki Campbell and Graded ducks was 1488.92±6.53, 1855.08±6.37 and 1519.00±14.57 g, respectively. The mean egg weight of Pati, Khaki Campbell and Graded ducks at 40th week of age was recorded as 67.04 ± 0.63, 66.42 ± 0.62 and 67.56 ± 0.69 g, respectively. The annual egg production of Pati, Khaki Campbell and Graded ducks was found to be in the range of 90-100, 240-250 and 140 – 150 per duck, respectively. The age at first egg for Pati, Khaki Campbell and Graded ducks ranged from 210-240, 150-180 and 180-200 days, respectively. Most of the farmers maintained their flock for 2-3 years of production. The farmers generally purchased duckling at day-old or at one month of age either from the local market or from their neighbours/local hatchery located in the nearby places. Most of the farmers reared ducks for household consumption and the excess eggs and meat ducks were sold through two types of marketing channel- (I) producer → consumer and (II) producer → middle man → consumer. The table eggs and live ducks were sold @ Rs. 9.00 -10.00 per egg and Rs. 450.00 – 600.00 per duck. Demand and consumption of duck meat increased many folds during winter and festive seasons like Durga puja, Kali puja, New Year‟s Eve, Magh bihu and during picnic season starting from October to February. The duck meat becomes tastier due to fat deposition during the month of November to January. None of the farmers were dependent upon the financial supports from any financial agency. Occasionally, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morigaon distributed improved varieties of duck to the beneficiaries interested in duck farming. Duck farming was found to be a subsidiary source of income for almost all the farmers under study. Non-availability of vaccine was ranked first among all the constraints faced by the duck farmers followed by lack of Governmental financial assistance, lack of proper guidance in duck-rearing techniques, lack of availability of quality duckling, lack of scientific know-how, lack of availability of high yielding duck breeds, higher mortality rate, lack of access to veterinary services. The duck farmers earned an annual profit of Rs. 299.00 per duck.