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Livelihood Improvement of Farmers Through Buffalo Farming at Madarganj Upazila of Bangladesh

M A Hossain
Department of Animal Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.

A Akhtar
Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A Haque
Departmrnt of Agricultural Extension and Information System, Sher-e- Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

KC Bhowmick
Social Development Foundation (SDF), Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted to investigate the socio-economic profile of the buffalo farmers and livelihood improvement at three unions namely Balijuri, Jorekhali, and Karaichura of Madargonj upazila of Jamalpur district. Three villages were selected from each union with 90 farmers in Jamalpur district. Data were collected from October to December 2018 through personal interviewing with a pre-tested questionnaire. The investigation revealed that buffalo rearing was practiced by middle (30-45 years) and old (>45 years) aged farmers. 22.22 % of buffalo farmers were illiterate, 44.44 % primary education and <SSC 33.33 %. The major occupation of selected farmers was buffalo (55.55 %) followed by beef (16.67%), sheep/goat (16.67 %) and crop farming (11.11%). The buffalo farmers had training skills (61.11%) and the maximum farmers (72.22 %) used ASA/SDF loan were 27.78 % used their own capital for buffalo’s production. The buffalo farmers purchased usually one pair of buffalo (50.00%) and reared at least for 2 years. The farmers fed their buffalos with locally available roadside and river-side grasses and some practiced concentrate feeding. A semi-intensive feeding system was practiced (66.67 %) for the rearing of buffaloes followed by an extensive feeding system (33.33 %). Most farmers allowed wallowing buffaloes once or twice per day. The main diseases were found in Foot and Mouth disease (38.89 %) followed by diarrhoea (33.33 %), a black quarter (16.67 %) and hemorrhagic septicemia (11.11 %). Most of the farmers practiced vaccination and de-worming regularly. The highest portion of the farmers used the average cost of one buffalo at 103,667.00 BDT. The annual total cost of production was BDT 114,167.00, and the return was 52,883.00 BDT per buffalo. The annual food and cloth purchasing capacity of buffalo farmers were found to be increased to 33.36 and 30.46 %, respectively and all other impact parameters were also increased through buffalo rearing. Considering all parameters, ameliorating livelihood would easily be improved by buffalo farming of farmers in studied areas.

Keywords: Buffalo, Indigenous, Livelihood improvement, Impact assessment

Location: Madarganj Upazilla of Jamalpur District in the Division of Mymensingh of Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-10-2018

End Date: 00-12-2018

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Socio-economic status, Buffalo

Objectives:

To investigate the present status of buffalo production, to explore the potentialities of buffaloes as well as ameliorating livelihood of farmers.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at Madarganj Upazilla of Jamalpur District in the Division of Mymensingh of Bangladesh. Madarganj is located at 24.8917°N 89.7500°E. It has 41,058 household units and a total area of 225.38 km². There are seven unions and three unions namely Balijuri, Jorekhali, Karaichura, and thirty farmers were selected from each union due to abundant natural green grasses in the riverbank of old Brahammaputra and Jamuna, suitable temperature, ecology, good transport facilities, and flood plain area. There are also char areas where a lot of grazing land for buffaloes. Therefore, this area is suitable for buffalo rearing and side by side to improve the livelihoods of poor farmers. Madarganj Upazila is a vulnerable area forever companion of river erosion, over flooded, draught and changing of livelihood option of local dwellers. Buffalo is only their suitable option for income-generating activities (IGAs) in the studied areas. The interview schedule was carefully prepared based on the objectives of the study. A draft schedule was developed before preparing the final schedule. The draft schedule was then pre-tested with selected farmers’ areas and then it was rearranged and modified as required of study. The schedule was developed in so simple manner to avoid misunderstanding and to get accurate information from respondents of research areas. Then it was finalized according to the experience gathered in a primarily field-level survey. The researchers collected all information through personal interviews from individual respondents in their own houses. An introductory visit was made to the study area when the aims and objects of the study were explained to most of the respondents. This helped to create a friendly atmosphere for respondents. Brief information regarding the nature and purpose of the study was made to the respondents before the actual interview. The researchers also established desired rapport building systematically and explained whenever it was felt necessary. The information supplied by respondents was recorded directly on the interview schedule. The information was cross-checked carefully before leaving the study area to avoid errors. Data was collected in the local unit. These were subsequently converted into a desirable standard unit. The respondents were interviewed at their house so they could give proper information without any hesitation. Excellent cooperation was received from all respondents during the data collection period. Data were collected from October to December 2018. The selected variables in this study were educational status, occupational status, socioeconomic status, livestock status, feeding, housing condition, disease, and health care, routine activities of farmers for buffalo rearing, the annual cost of production, income, and impact of income for livelihood improvement of poor farmers in the studied areas. Buffaloes were kept inside the house at night and 6-7 hours were in the field for grazing green grass. The house was cleaned every morning. Buffaloes were supplied with pure drinking water. All tube wells were done an arsenic test by the technician of the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE). Some supplements were fed in the morning and rest in the afternoon. Animals were bathed daily with fresh water using a body brush. Regular combing was done twice daily. As a result, external parasites and dust would be removed from their body. Animal practiced wallowing at the nearby pond of the farmer’s house in the studied areas. Green grass, fodders, rice straw, protein concentrates were fed to buffaloes routine-wise. After completion of the field survey, all interview schedules were set for data tabulation for coding and reduction. All individual variables of interview schedules were transferred to the master sheet to facilitate tabulation. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics such as number, tabular, mean, percentage, standard deviation, etc. The data was analyzed with the help of the SPSS-v-16 computer package program.

Source of Information: International Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 2021, 8(1): 48-57

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4602834

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study revealed that buffalo rearing is the best option of income-generating activity for poor and hard-core poor farmers for their ameliorating livelihood. The study showed drastic livelihood improvement through buffalo rearing in studied areas. Considering all the parameters, buffalo production was a profitable IGA in the selected areas and improvement of the socio-economic status and livelihood of farmers were possible in the studied areas. The loan recovery rate was better than that of other microfinance institutions due to better income generation through applied good livestock management practices and improved scientific approaches and techniques.

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