A study on entrepreneurial behaviour of tribal farmers in adoption of improved pig farming practices in Dhalai district of Tripura
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Date
2018-08
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College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Central Agricultural University , Imphal
Abstract
Entrepreneurship has now been recognized as a concept not only vital for industries but also in the development of agriculture. Development of entrepreneurship is directly related to the socio-economic development of the society. Pig farming has been recognized as one of the profitable ventures among the rural masses in Tripura, particularly among tribal farmers. It plays a significant role in ensuring livelihood security to the millions of tribal small & marginal farmers, landless labourers and rural folk. This is one of the most profitable entrepreneurial avenues among different livestock farming and gaining momentum under rural backyard condition. Piggery is an important activity that provides opportunity as an income generating activity for small scale farmers, especially in developing countries like India. With the increase demand for meat, fast-growing species like pigs with efficient feed conversion rates likely to solve the meat requirement. The present study was conducted on entrepreneurial behaviour of tribal farmers in adoption of improved pig farming practices in Dhalai district of Tripura during 2017-18. Based on the objectives of the study, Ex-post facto research design was followed. In Dhalai district, two blocks namely Ambassa and Salema were purposively selected and from each of the selected block, three villages were selected purposively based on highest population of tribals in the villages. A total 120 farmers were selected by proportionate random sampling. Data were collected by personal interview method using structured interview schedule and collected data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical tools. The socio-economic profile of the respondents revealed that more number of pig farmers belonged to middle age group. And out of total respondents more number of respondents had up to primary school education (38.30%), medium family size (73.34%), medium level of experience in farming (54.16%), medium economic motivation (50.84%), medium mass media exposure (48.34%), medium extension contact (43.34%) and medium annual income (46.67%). The entrepreneurial behaviour of the respondents revealed that more number of respondents have medium innovativeness, medium achievement motivation, medium decision making ability, low planning ability, medium risk orientation, medium level of co-ordinating ability, medium cosmopoliteness, medium self confidence, medium level of information seeking behaviour. The pig farmers faced multiple constraints in pig farming. The major constraints were high cost of concentrate feed, non-availability of vaccines / medicines / timely health care in the area of study, mortality due to frequent disease outbreak, lack of scientific knowledge and skills in modern piggery / livestock practices, limited awareness and lack of government supports, traditional system of rearing of pigs among the tribal farmers, less availability of good quality piglets, lack of credit facilities to support entrepreneurial venture in piggery, lack of transportation and communication facilities as well as processing units in the district and poor economic condition of tribal farmers to incur initial investment for scientific rearing of pigs.