Competitiveness challenges and strategic interventions for piggery farming in Ernakulam District, Kerala

Abstract

Piggery farming holds significant potential for enhancing rural livelihoods in Kerala, yet production and marketing constraints hinder its competitiveness. This study identifies and prioritizes key challenges faced by piggery units in Ernakulam district using the Garrett ranking technique. The analysis reveals that excessive marketing intermediaries (Garrett score: 64.7, Rank I) and inefficient resource allocation (61.3, Rank II) are the foremost barriers, followed by breeding challenges (58.9, Rank III) and high commission charges (56.4, Rank IV). Critical operational constraints include limited veterinary access (53.2, Rank V), disease burden (50.8, Rank VI), and unorganized markets (45.6, Rank X), compounded by price fluctuations (44.5, Rank XIII) and credit inadequacies (45.3, Rank XI). The study proposes evidence-based policy measures to address these gaps: (1) establishing farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) to bypass intermediaries, (2) improving breeding infrastructure and veterinary outreach, and (3) formalizing market linkages to stabilize prices. Financial interventions, such as subsidized feed and tailored credit schemes, are recommended to mitigate cost pressures (feed costs ranked VIII, 47.1). By tackling these constraints, stakeholders can enhance the sector’s resilience and profitability, particularly for smallholders who dominate Ernakulam’s piggery landscape.