Knowledge and Adoption Level of Camel Owners about Scientific Management Practices in Arid Zone of Rajasthan
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Date
2018
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Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
Abstract
The present study was carried out to assess the knowledge and adoption level of camel owners about scientific management practices in arid zone of Rajasthan. Study also documented the constraints perceived by camel owners during camel management and marketing practices. Two districts, Bikaner and Jaisalmer were purposively selected on the basis of camel population. One tehsil from each district was selected purposively on the basis of numbers of camels. From each tehsil 4 villages were selected randomly. Total 15 camel owners were selected randomly from each selected village thus, making sample size of 120 respondents. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through interview schedule, observation, discussion, available secondary source of information and personal contact with the respondents. The study revealed that majority of respondents were male, belonged to middle age group, OBC, illiterate, lived in nuclear type family, having medium (5 to 8 members) size family, possessed katcha house, had animal husbandry with agriculture and labour as major family occupation, low social participation, medium land holding, small size camel herd (up to 5 camels), annual gross family income above one lakh and low milk production.
Study also indicated that majority of respondents fed their camel by both stall and grazing on pasture land, only give maintenance ration, using own herd male camel of good physical appearance for breeding purpose, started breeding at 4 to years of age. About 38 per cent of respondents had veterinary facilities in their villages. Dermatitis and surra were most common
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infection reported by 57.5 and 37.5 per cent of respondents. Majority of respondents reported that veterinarian was first choice to treat the camels in gynaecological (80%) and surgical (61.66%) cases. However, in medicinal cases about half of the respondent treated their camels at home.
Study revealed that respondents had highest knowledge about breeding practices. About 88 per cent of respondents had medium level of overall knowledge about scientific camel management practices. Knowledge of scientific camel management practices was positively and significantly associated with educational status, extension contact, mass media exposure, land holding and social participation. About 94 per cent of respondents had medium level of adoption of scientific camel management practices. Adoption of scientific camel management practices was positively and significantly associated with educational status, land holding, social participation, extension contact, mass media and family gross income.
There was no organised camel market in both the districts. About 58 per cent of respondents recently have sold their live camel. About 48 per cent of the respondents were having choice to sell their male camel. Majority (78.33%) of respondents were preferably selling their camels at 5 to 10 years of age. For selling their camels majority (73.33%) of respondents were chosen other villagers as buyers. Maximum selling price for male camel was found Rs. 40,000 whereas for female camel it was Rs. 32,000. The camel owners reported decreasing utility of camel due to mechanisation, lack of organised market for camel and milk and Insufficient grazing pasture were major constraints with mean score of 2.98, 2.43 and 2.40, respectively
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