Information needs of osmanabadi goat entrepreneurs in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state

Introduction

Goats were among the first farm animals to be domesticated. As indicated by the archaeological evidence, they have been associated with man in a symbiotic relationship for up to 10,000 years (Ensminger and Parker, 1986) [5] . Genus, species, Capra hircus. Goats disseminated all over the world because of their great adaptability to varying environmental conditions and the different nutritional regimes under which they were evolved and subsequently maintained. They proved useful to man throughout the ages due to their productivity, small size and non-competiveness with him for food. Goats provide their owners with a broad range of products and socio-economic services and have played an important role in the social life of many people being used as gifts, dowry, in religious rituals and rites of passage (Peacock, 1996) [13] . However, the average carcass and milk yields remained stagnant over this period. In India, the growth in goat population can be improved by technological interventions for cutting down mortality among kids and adult animals and enhancing productivity. The diseases in goats result in mortality ranging from 5 to 25 per cent in adults and 10 to 40 per cent in kids (Rekib and Vihan, 1997) [15] No information was available on the socio-economic aspects of commercial goat farming under semi-intensive and intensive systems of production in the country (Kumar 2007) [7] . Poor people on zero input mostly rear goats in India (Gopala et al., 2010) [6] . Majority of the world's goat population is found in the small holding farming system where nutritional conditions are often sub-optimal (Sibanda et al., 1999) [16] . This zero purchased input profession is the most popular in the scheduled tribe community and supported them substantially to cater their needs (Deshpande et al., 2009) [3] . Therefore, by considering above facts, the present study was attempted to assess information needs and the personal and socio-economic characteristics of Osmanabadi Goat Entrepreneurs in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state.

Material and Methods

The study was conducted in four districts in Marahtwada region with highest goat population. From each district 40 respondents selected purposively with at least 10 or more www.extensionjournal.com goats and running farm from last three years .thus a sample of 160 respondents was considered for the study. To cover the domain of research statement related to housing, breeding, feeding, health care, marketing of goat rearing were collected edited and finalized by following guidelines given by Edward and Kilpatrick (1948) [4] . Simple self-explanatory, clear and meaningful questions were framed in Marathi (Mother tongue) for easy understanding by the respondents for receiving accurate response from them. For refinement in the interview schedule pretesting was done by subjecting to 15% of respondents I.E. 24 respondents from non-sample population. From the collected responses reliability was calculated and Cronbach α was found 0.87 which indicates high reliability of instrument. For content validity a meeting of advisory committee was called and corrections were incorporated in the final instrument. By following interview method data were collected, coded, tabulated, analyzed and interpreted. For the present study frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation was used. [17] and Prasad et al., (2013) [14] . Budak et al., (2010) [1] and Ogola et al., (2010) [12] . Misra and Pal (2003) [8] and Kumar (2007) [7] . The probable reason behind this situation might be that unemployed youth are in search of income generation so to satisfy inherent family responsibilities.

Result and Discussion

Personal socio-economic and psychological characteristics of Osmanabadi goat entrepreneurs

Information needs of Osmanabadi goat entrepreneurs in six major areas of goat management practices

Producers were asked their opinions about quality and quantity of goat information available. A series of Likertscaled statements was provided and respondents indicated whether they, most needed, needed and not needed with the statement. [9] , Sinha et al., (2016) [18] . The probable reason might be that feeding alone contributes major part in cost of production and also plays major role in keeping the growth rate constant, to attend puberty in early age, to improve fecundity and prolificacy. Also it is difficult to manage goat during draught conditions. These respondents might be wanted to address all these concerns of feeding for making goat enterprise sustainable and economically feasible. [9] , Sinha et al., (2016) [18] . The reason could be that the health affect production and reproduction of goat and increases expenditure on medicine, consultation charges and decreases growth and production. These respondents might be wanted to keep their flock disease free by vaccination, isolation of suspected animals, deworming, vaccination etc. [9] , Sinha et al., (2016) [18] . The probable reason might be that management is to manage factors of production like man, money, material and organization which plays vital role in feasibility of enterprise by minimizing inputs and maximizing outputs and ultimately leads to wide cost benefit ratio. The respondent might have experienced the losses of mismanagement and fruits of efficient management. [19] Mary et al., (2013) [9] , Sinha et al., (2016) [18] . The probable reason might be that form many years goat farmers are not addressing breakeven point, breakeven analysis, goat insurance but education, experience, short of resources and pressure of family budget might be forcing them to learn factors responsible for feasibility and to address them.

Conclusion

It is concluded that a majority of respondents were of middle age group had medium family size, educated up to college level, possessed medium flock size. Majority of the respondents had medium level of annual income, social participation, information sources and market orientation, had medium level of knowledge and adoption level of scientific management practices followed by Osmanabadi goat entrepreneurs. Also it was found that majority of the respondents expressing most needed information in the areas of breeding management, feeding management, health management, care and management and marketing and other and expressed as needed information for the housing management.

References

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