image

Content

image

Type : Other Article

Problems and Prospects of Traditional Pig Farming for Tribal Livelihood in Nagaland

M.K. Patra, Sonuwara Begum and Bidyut C. Deka

Abstract

Majority of the tribal population of North Eastern region rear pigs as integral part of their livelihood. There is growing demand for pork in NE regions especially in Nagaland and much of this demand is met from the imports from other states of India. A study has been undertaken to appraise the in depth scenario of traditional pig production systems and to identify the problems where scientific intervention could be initiated for further improvement in production. Survey was conducted with designed questionnaire in selected villages of five different districts namely, Dimapur, Kohima, Peren, Wokha and Mon based on their geographical location. A total of 200 respondents were interviewed on different aspects of socio-economic condition, routine management, health care practices and market linkages associated with pig husbandry. Majority of pig farmers belong to lower income group, small and medium land holding capacity, low education level with average family size of 5 to 8 members. Small scale low input pig farming at intensive system prevails all over the Nagaland. The major constraint faced by the farmers include high cost of concentrate feed (81.08%), non availability of proper veterinary health care (72.97%), high cost of initial inputs and lack of quality piglet (60.36%), frequent outbreak of diseases (46.85%), lack of availability good breeding boar (45.95%), lack of market linkages (45.04%) etc. Scientific interventions in utilization of non-conventional feed resources, capacity building in health care services, adoption of scientific breeding, use of artificial insemination and developing suitable entrepreneur for medium to large scale production and proper use of pig byproducts could transform the traditional subsistence pig farming to a profitable enterprise

Keyword: Traditional pig farming, Socio-economic status, Tribal livelihood and Nagaland

Full Text