GEODYNAMICS AND TRIBAL LIVESTOCK FARM WOMEN’S TRANSITION IN ASSAM
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Date
2017-07
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Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati
Abstract
Different ethnic groups of farm women in hilly tracks of Assam are trying to earn their livelihood against all hopes. The study was conducted in the two hill districts of Assam namely, the Karbi Anglong and the Dima Hasao district with the displaced women numbering 200 to find out the frequency of social displacement and hardship, knowing the status of animal health, disease distribution and resilience in terms of changing role, strategies adopted to combat with dynamics of geo and socio-ecological systems and working out a pro-poor value chains: market access and sustainability. The relevant data to fulfil these objectives were collected through a pretested, reliable and valid interview schedule. The study revealed that the average age of the respondents was about 37.72 years with education level up to middle school having about 4-5 number family size and the order of concentration of occupation was agriculture, followed by animal husbandry, business, weaving and craft. Majority of the displaced women were Dimasas and Karbis. Best thing in their earlier place of stay was rearing of livestock was easier and better while the new place had good road connection. The frequency of social displacement in terms of distance (k.m.) varied from about 3 Km to 200 Km and length of time of displacement in terms of years varied from 4-28 years The features of earlier place were “Earlier livestock could be reared in zero inputs”, “There was a sense of community care for the livestock while letting the animals loose or bringing them back home. Hardships faced due to displacement were “The total agricultural land has become lesser causing food crisis for livestock”, “There is always a danger of predators, their number is more now” and “Production and productivity of the available land are lesser affecting food availability for livestock”. All the respondents had “free access to community land” and had “fully settled” down in new place. Majority of the respondents had medium level of land used for housing, for growing staple crop and vegetables but there were marked variations in land use pattern in construction of livestock shed. Condition of respondents’ house and animal/poultry shed were “man and animals share same courtyard”, “kaccha floor”, “wooden planked floor”, “animal sheds are at a distance from main house”, “iron sheet roof” and “thatched roof”. Majority of the respondents’ reason of displacement were “For better mobility of men and works”, “Communal clash” and “Landslide”. The average score on number of times per year animals suffered from diseases was 2.07 with occurrence of “FMD”, “Humpsore”, “Mastitis” and “Parasitic infestation” in cattle, “FMD”, “Humpsore”, “Calf scour”, and “Parasitic infestation” in buffalo, “Contagious ecthyma”, “Goat pox”, “Mastitis”, “Enterotoxaemia”, “Mange” and “Parasitic infestation” in goat, “Swine fever”, “Scrotal hernia”, “Piglet anaemia” and “Piglet diarrhoea” in pig , “Ranikhet”, “Cocciodiosis” and “Fowl Pox” in local chicken and Duck plague in duck . Only sometimes doctors were called mostly local treatment was given by the displaced farm women. Those treatment were Hanserong (Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa) leaves and seed is boiled and its water is mixed with rice grain and then fed to the bird for treating fever and diarrhoea”, “Turmeric paste is mixed with rice grain and then fed to the bird during fever”, “Distill wine is given to the bird when they suffer from fever”, “Kerosene mixed with rice and fed to the bird for treating fever”, “Mishimao (Clerodendrum infortunatum) leaves cook along with the feed and fed to pig during fever”, “Dry fish were fed to the cow during bloat”, “Crushed chilly applied on the eye during infection”, “Jackfruit leaves (Artocarpus heterophyllus) were fed during abdominal pain in goat”,“ Raw turmeric and salt applied in the affected area during scabies in goat”, “Chilly and tamarind were applied in the tongue during F.M.D”, “Salt and chilly rubbed in the tongue during F.M.D”, “Misaghi leaves (Sarcochlamys culcherrima) and banana flower cooked along with the feed and fed to pig for treating diarrhoea”, “Opium (Papaver somniferum) leaves rolled in the tender banana leaves and then fed to cow for curing diarrhoea”, “Guava (Psidium gujava) and (Paederia foetida) leaves were fed during diarrhoea in goat, cow and buffalo” and “Crushed mugungrema (Blumea lanceolaria) leaves were mixed with mud and then applied on the wound in buffalo, goat and pig”. Roles women played were “Preparation and collection of feed for livestock”, “Caring of disease animals”, “Milking of animal”, “Bring the animals from grazing area in evening”, “Separation of sick animals”, “Pregnant animals are taken care of by women with full efficiency”, “Cleaning of feed mangers and water troughs occasionally” and “Cleaning of animals shed occasionally”. Roles women play when livestock died were “Throw the bird in forest”, “Clean the place where bird or animal was found dead”, “Bury the bird in ground” and “Consume the bird if large”. For animal health “Only kitchen wastes are provided to animals once in the evening”, “No feed supplement is given to animals”, “Animals go out and come in at their own free choice regularly” and “Separation of sick animals”. For animal resilience the displaced farm women “Kept the animals together in safer place whenever required”, “Maintained regularity in free grazing”, “Provided supplementary feed when in scarcity” and “Taking special care for pregnant animals in feeding and husbandry practices”. Efforts taken by displaced farm women to combat with geo and socio-ecological change were “The houses have been made in accordance with the social needs and demands”, “Now a days livestock remain under observation even when they graze freely”, “Increased the number of livestock reared so that income is increased” and “The house making is in accordance with the geo-ecological location”. Effects on livestock and their produces/ products were there was increase in “Scope of self -employment”, “Transport and communication for livestock and products”, “Interest of youths for livestock rearing”, “Socialization by women for different official and organizational activities” and “Cost of production per unit”. Problems of farm women rearing livestock were “Lack of market information”, “Lack of business management skills”, “Economic problem”, “Medicines and vaccines are costly”, “Lack of easy approach to veterinarian”, “Insufficient access to capital and credit”, “High cost of animal feed”, “Less training on scientific training”, “Limited access to extension service” and “Transportation cost”. Measures adopted with excess produces or the limited produces for value addition and better remuneration “smoke pork”, “smoke carabeef”, “smoke chicken”, “smoke fish” and “fermented fish” product were prepared. Issues distressing women farmers’ access to market were “Insufficient access to capital and credit”, “Lack of market information”, “Lack of business management skills among women farmers” and “Arranging one vehicle for the sale of one’s own products is not economic and other women do not come together”. For sustainability steps was taken only in social dimension “Gender equality”, “Status equality”, and “Community relationship”.
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