Adoption Behavior of Buffalo Farmers in Rajouri District
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Date
2021-11-11
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Jammu (J&K)
Abstract
Buffalo rearing is one of the crucial activity in Jammu division which influences the livelihood of the dairy farmers. Population of buffaloes in J&K is 7.38 lakh. Rajouri district contributes 18.00 percent to the total buffalo population of Jammu and Kashmir. It is second largest district in terms of buffalo population. Further, adoption of recommended buffalo rearing practices by the dairy farmers plays a major role in enhancing the production of buffaloes. So, a study was conducted to know the existing level of adoption of recommended buffalo rearing practices in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. Ex post facto research design was used for selection of district whereas, blocks, villages and respondents were selected by simple random sampling technique. The data was collected from the 120 buffalo farmers with the help of structured interview schedule containing selected dependent and independent variables, through personal interview technique. The majority of the respondents were middle aged, having poor education, engaged in diversified occupation and possessed medium herd size ranging from 3- 5 animals. They had poor social participation, extension contact and mass media exposure. Buffalo farmers fared well in terms of economic motivation and risk orientation. Majority of the respondents (57.50%) had medium knowledge (66.50%) whereas, 25.00 percent had low knowledge (46.47%) and only 17.50 percent respondents had high knowledge (80.40%). Age and occupation were negatively and insignificantly associated with the knowledge. Education, social participation, herd size, mass media exposure, land holding and economic motivation had positive and significant association with the knowledge. Extension contact and risk orientation had positive and insignificant association with the knowledge. Majority of the respondents (64.17%) had medium adoption of 62.59 percent followed by 18.33 percent who had low adoption (51.77 %) and only 17.50 percent of the respondents had high adoption level (71.76%). Age and occupation were negatively and insignificantly associated with the adoption. Education, social participation, herd size, mass media exposure, land holding, economic motivation, extension contact and risk orientation had positive and significant association with the adoption. Healthcare constraints were perceived as most serious constraints with MPS of 79.72 percent followed by breeding (77.55%) and feeding constraints (70.19%) whereas, management constraints were perceived as least serious constraints by the buffalo farmers with MPS of 68.63 percent. ‘Transport facility not available for timely sale of milk was perceived as the most serious constraint by the buffalo farmers whereas, ‘lack of knowledge about hygienic milking’ was perceived as least serious constraint.