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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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ThesisItem Open Access Women empowerment through self-help group with special reference to animal husbandry: ASRLM perspective(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022-09) Deka, Rahul Kanti; Borthakur, BikashIn recent years the group approach to poverty alleviation is getting recognition in Asian countries. Mostly, women are mobilized in to groups for undertaking mutually beneficial social and economic activities. The group provides the women a base for self-employment and empowerment through group dynamics. In India these mutual help based groups are known as Self Help Group (SHG). In 1999, GOI introduced Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana, a programme aimed at bringing families above the poverty line by ensuring sustainable level of income over a period of time which later in 2011 renamed as NRLM and in 2016 again renamed as DAY-NRLM. NRLM is being implemented in Assam by Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Society (ASRLMS) with the objectives laid by NRLM for enhancing the social and economic empowerment of the rural poor of Assam. Although several researches have been conducted on SHGs in general, negligible research has carried out in Animal husbandry in particular. So, the present study entitled “Women empowerment through self - help group with Special Reference To Animal Husbandry is proposed with the objectives a) to study the socio-personnel and economic profile of women SHG members, b) to appraise the organizational dynamics and financial management of SHG, c) to study different dimensions of empowerment of women SHG members, and d) to delineate the constraints as perceived by the respondents in rearing and marketing of livestock and poultry. Four block namely Rangia and Kamalpur from Kamrup (R) and Pub Nalbari and Paschim Nalbari from Nalbari district have selected. As such, 25 respondents or women SHG members from each block were selected randomly making the total sample size 100. A pretested, reliable, and valid interview schedule was used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using standard statistical methods. Majority of the respondents i.e. 64.00 per cent were in middle age category and the average age was found to be 47.00 years. 87 per cent of respondents were married while only 5.00 percent were widows and 8.00 per cent were unmarried.It was observed that 75.00 per cent farm women resided as nuclear family while 25.00 per cent as a joint family. 81.00 per cent of the respondents having medium family size with average size of 6. It was found that most respondents i.e. 78.00 per cent had medium educational qualification. Majority of the respondents 53.00 per cent were doing agriculture and animal husbandry as the major occupation. Majority of the respondents having medium level of experience in animal husbandry. Majority of the respondents i.e. 55.00 per cent are doing goatery, dairy and poultry as their livestock occupation. 100 per cent of the respondents took loan from bank, village organization and cluster level federation. 47.00 per cent of the respondent’s medium level of social participation. 100 per cent of the respondents attended either formal or consultancy based training. 62.00 per cent of the respondents having medium level of mass media exposure. 67.00 per cent of the respondents having medium level of extension agency contact. Majority i.e. 89.00 per cent of the respondents adopted middle man as the marketing channel. It was observed majority of the respondents having medium level of land holding. It was reflected in the study that most respondents in all four blocks, respondents had medium level of income from livestock with an average of Rs. 118819/year. Total annual income of respondents in selected block was of medium level with an average of Rs. 226667. Among 9 variables age shown negative correlation with women empowerment where as other other 8 variables have shown positive correlation. In case of correlation with constraints, among 9 variables, age shown positive correlation whereas other 8 variables shown negative correlation. Significant relation in regression analysis between independent variables and women empowerment is shown by age (p< 0.05) and educational qualification (p<0.05). In constraints with independent variables experience in animal husbandry showed a negative and significant relation (p< 0.05). The co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) value was found to be 0.426, and the F value for R was found to be non-significant.ThesisItem Open Access Participation of tribal farmwomen in livestock management activities in Dima Hasao District of Assam(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara Campus, 2022-09) Bodo, Komolika; Bora, LeemaThere are diverse ways in which livestock contributes to the household food and nutrition and rural women in India plays a crucial role in managing livestock. India has a long history of involving women in raising of livestock because domestic animals have long been an essential component of the family farming system. Studies on varied tasks shouldered by the rural women in livestock management are of utmost relevance in highlighting their contributions at the family level. For the planners, decision-makers and extension workers such studied serve as the baseline for initiating projects for rural development. With this reality in mind, the current study on the "Participation of Tribal Farm Women in Livestock Management Activities in Dima Hasao District of Assam" carried out.The study was conducted in two selected blocks of the Dima Hasao district i.e., Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block which were purposively selected in keeping adherence with the objectivesto explore a) The socio-economic profile of the respondents in the study area, b) The extent of involvement of womenfolk in livestock management activities in the study area, c) The extent of participation of women in decision making process in livestock management activities, and d) The relationship between extent of involvement and decision making of womenfolk in livestock management activities. As such, 60 respondents or tribal women from each block i.e., Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block were selected snow ball sampling making the total sample size 120. A pretested, reliable, and valid interview schedule was used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 24.Majority of the tribal women livestock farmers i.e. 68.33 per cent were in middle age category and the average age was found to be 41.35 years. 96.67 per cent of respondents were married while only 2.50 percent were widows and 0.83 per cent were unmarried.It was observed that 81.67 per cent farm womenresided as nuclear family while 18.33 per cent as a joint family. Majority of respondents inDiyungbra ITDP Block i.e. 81.67 per cent and Jatinga Valley Development Block 76.67 per cent had medium family size with 3-6 numbers. Majority (35.00 per cent) of the respondents were engaged in Agriculture + Animal husbandry + Weaving in Diyungbra ITDP Block and 33.33 per cent were engaged in Agriculture + Animal husbandry + Government employed in Jatinga Valley Development Block. It was found that most respondents inDiyungbra ITDP Block andJatinga Valley Development Block i.e., 63.33 per cent and50.00 per cent had medium educational qualification. The majority of respondents in both the blocks i.e. 81.67 per cent and 83.33 per cent had medium-sized herd. The majority of respondents in both the blocks i.e. 75.00 per cent and 73.33 per cent had a medium level of social participation. Most respondents in Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block showed low level of extension contact, i.e., 46.67 per cent and 48.33 per cent respectively. Majority of the respondents in Diyungbra ITDP Block, i.e., 93.33 per cent and 90.00 per cent in Jatinga Valley Development Block did not receive any training on livestock management. Mass media exposure in both the blocks was of medium level with 45.00 per cent respondents in Diyungbra ITDP Block and 70.00 per cent in Jatinga Valley Development Block.It was observed that in Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block most respondentsi.e.,48.33 per cent and58.33 per cent had low farm land holding. The majority of respondents in Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block i.e., 63.33 per cent and 71.67 per cent had medium total land holding. It was reflected in the study that most respondents in Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block had medium level of income from livestock with an average of Rs. 25983.33/year. Total annual income of respondents in Diyungbra ITDP Block and Jatinga Valley Development Block was of medium level with an average of Rs. 151166.67. Majority of the respondents i.e., 41.67 per cent faced a medium level of distance to reach the market. Most respondents i.e., 76.67 per cent had a medium level of involvement in livestock management activities with a mean of 13.72 in the sub-area of feeding and watering,12.17 in breeding, 12.15 in general management and 11.59 in animal health care.Most respondents i.e., 71.67 per cent had a medium level of decision-making in livestock management activities with a mean of 14.48 in household activities followed by a mean of 12.42 in feeding and watering of animals, 10.75 in general management, 7.01 in animal health care, and 6.77 in breeding. In correlational analysis 3 independent variablesviz.age had a positive and highly significant correlation and mass media exposure had a negative and highly significant correlation withthe extent of involvement of womenfolk in livestock management activities in Diyungbra ITDP Block. In Jatinga Valley Development Block also age had a positive and highly significant correlation and mass media exposure had a negative and highly significant correlation withthe extent of involvement of womenfolk in livestock management activities. In Diyungbra ITDP Block, 3 independent variables viz. age, herd size and extension contact, showed a positive and significant correlation but mass media exposure had a negative and significant correlation withthe extent of participation of women in decisionmaking process of women in livestock management. In Jatinga Valley Development Block, age had a positive and highly significant correlation, extension contact had positive and significant correlation, mass media exposure had a negative and highly significant correlation and farm landholding showed a negative and significant correlation withthe extent of participation of women in decisionmaking process of women in livestock management. Regression analysis between independent variables and the extent of involvement of womenfolk in livestock management activities could not attain a level of significance. The co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) value was found to be 0.269, and the F value for R was found to be non-significant.regression analysis between independent variables and the extent of decision-making process of women in livestock management showed that the age of respondents of Dima Hasao District had a positive and significant relation (p<0.05). Herd size also had a positive and significant relation (p<0.05). The co-efficient of multiple determination (R2) value was found to be 0.273, and the F value for R was found to be non-significant.ThesisItem Open Access IMPACT OF FEMALE PARTICIPATION IN LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY ENTERPRISES IN ENSURING WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG SELECTED TRIBES/ ETHNIC GROUP IN GOALPARA DISTRICT OF ASSAM(College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati, 2022-01) ROY, DEEPJYOTI; RAY, M. N.A study titled “Impact of Female Participation in Livestock and Poultry Enterprises in Ensuring Women Empowerment and Household Food Security among Selected Tribes/ Ethnic Group in Goalpara District of Assam” was conducted with a view to investigate gender participation in livestock enterprises, to find the socio-personal, socio-economic and psychological parameters of the women of four tribes/ ethnic group along with their time spent in livestock related activities, their nature and extent of participation and to assess the impact of their participation in these activities on their overall household empowerment and food security. The Goalpara district of Assam was purposively selected, from where a total of two hundred respondents- fifty each from Rabha, Garo, Hajong and Koch-Rajbongshi communities were surveyed for the study, the selection being done via snowball sampling method. The study revealed that majority of the respondents belonged to young age category (54.00 per cent), had small sized family (54.00 per cent), lived in a joint family system (56.50 per cent), had small land holding (69.00 per cent), possessed small sized herd (59.50 per cent) and had low level of education (37.00 per cent), social participation (65.50 per cent), mass media exposure (65.00 per cent) and extension contact (55.50 per cent). They also earned low annual income from livestock and poultry rearing (61.50 per cent), from other sources (67.20 per cent) and as well as from all sources (66.00 per cent). In respect of experience in livestock and poultry rearing majority (61.50 per cent) of them had short experience, had favourable attitude towards improved livestock farming (51.00 per cent) and high level of liking for information sources (46.50 per cent). Majority (54.50 per cent) of the respondents considered animal husbandry as a secondary source of income. The highest number (38.00 per cent) of the respondents spent medium time engaged in various livestock rearing activities. Significant difference was observed among the communities in respect of their level of education (15.799**, P<0.01), level of social participation (6.029**, P<0.01), level of experience in livestock rearing (4.131**, P<0.01), level of mass media exposure (16.890, P<0.01), level of extension contact (13.496**, P<0.01), herd size (3.021*, P<0.05), land holding (10.166**, P<0.01), annual income from livestock and poultry rearing (7.197**, P<0.01), annual income from sources other than livestock and poultry rearing (8.962**, P<0.01), total annual income from all sources (9.552**, P<0.01), liking of information sources (17.560**, P<0.01), attitude towards improves livestock farming (19.586**, P<0.01), time spent in livestock activities (7.595**, P<0.01). Gender-wise it was seen that all the activities involved the participation of both males and females. No such activity was observed where only lone male or lone female participation was present. The chi-square analysis revealed that the activities like ‘collection of fodder’ (18.361*), ‘milking’ (12.989*), ‘selling of milk and milk products’ (14.633*), ‘preparation of milk products’ (14.010*), ‘collection of dung’ (13.448*), ‘preparation of dung cake’ (13.448*) and ‘bathing of animals’ (19.215*) revealed significant chi-square values at P<0.05 level of probability which indicated that gender was significantly associated with tribe/ethnicity in respect of these activities. In respect of nature of participation, respondents alone participated in higher number in most of the activities in comparison to with husband, with in-laws, with children or together. In respect of extent of participation it was seen that the respondents regularly participated in the activities common to both livestock and poultry rearing. The percentage of women who perceived high level of women empowerment through their participation in livestock and poultry rearing was 52.00 per cent while majority (71.00 per cent) of the respondents had a high level of perception that their participation in such activities ensured household food security. Relational analysis was conducted between independent variables and the extent of participation, women empowerment and household food security which revealed that herd size (r=0.292**, P<0.01), land size (r=0.208**, P<0.01), attitude towards improved livestock farming (r=0.409**, P<0.01), time spent in livestock activities (r=0.302**, P<0.01) showed highly significant and positive correlation with extent of participation while education (r= -0.195**, P<0.01) and total annual income from all sources (r= -0.200**, P<0.01) exhibited highly significant and negative correlation with extent of participation. While mass media exposure (r= -0.179*, P<0.05) showed significant and negative correlation with extent of participation. Regression analysis showed that herd size (2.706**, P<0.01), land size (2.635**, P <0.01), attitude towards improved livestock farming (4.953**, P<0.01) and time spent in livestock activities (3.335**, P<0.01) showed a highly significant effect on the extent of participation. The coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.369 which indicated that 36.90 per cent of variation in extent of participation could be explained by these variables. The F value (7.164) was found to be positive and highly significant and indicated that these variables were good predictors of extent of participation. In respect of women empowerment, it was observed that 7 out of 15 variables viz. age (r= 0.249**, P<0.01), social participation (r= 0.363**, P<0.01), experience in livestock farming (r= 0.235**, P<0.01), extension contact (r= 0.323**, P<0.01), annual income from livestock rearing (r= 0.335**, P<0.01), attitude towards improved livestock farming (r= 0.278**, P<0.01), time spent in livestock activities (r= 0.459**, P<0.01) exhibited highly significant and positive correlation with household women empowerment while family size (r=-0. 211**, P<0.01) showed highly significant and negative correlation with household women empowerment. On the other hand, multiple regression analysis showed that age (2.680**, P<0.01), social participation (4.208**, P<0.01), herd size (-3.950**, P<0.01), attitude towards improved livestock farming (5.456**, P<0.01) and time spent in livestock activities (4.227**, P<0.01) showed a highly significant contributing effect on household women empowerment and liking of information sources (-2.274*, P<0.05) showed a significant contributing effect on women empowerment. The coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.466 which indicated that 46.60 per cent of variation in household women empowerment could be explained by these variables. The F value (9.968) was found to be positive and highly significant and indicated that these variables were good predictors of household women empowerment. While in case of household food security, out of 15 independent variables social participation (r= 0.242**, P<0.01), mass media exposure (r= 0.216**, P<0.01), annual income from livestock farming (r= 0.276**, P<0.01), attitude towards improved livestock rearing (r= 0.343**, P<0.01), liking of information sources (r= 0.204**, P<0.01), time spent in livestock activities (r= 0.228**, P<0.01) exhibited highly significant and positive correlation with household food security while extension contact (r= 0.162*, P<0.05) showed significant and positive relationship with household food security. The regression analysis further revealed that social participation (3.680**, P<0.01), mass media exposure (2.678**, P<0.01), attitude towards improved livestock farming (5.262**, P<0.01) showed highly significant effect on household food security while herd size (-2.065*, P<0.05) had significant effect on the same. The coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.334 which indicated that 33.40 per cent of variation in food security could be explained by these variables. The F value (6.144) was found to be positive and highly significant and indicated that these variables were good predictors of the household food security. Further correlation co-efficient was calculated of extent of participation with that of women empowerment and household food security. No significant relation between the extent of participation of the respondents in livestock and poultry enterprises with the level of household empowerment of women or household food security was present.
