Constraints faced by tribal livestock farmers in adoption of recommended animal husbandry practices in west Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Livestock rearing plays a significant role in ensuring livelihood security among tribal households; however, the adoption of recommended animal husbandry (A.H.) practices remains limited due to various socio-economic, technical, and institutional constraints. The present investigation was undertaken to identify the major constraints perceived by tribal livestock farmers in adopting recommended A.H. practices in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. An ex-post-facto research design was employed, and a total of 288 tribal livestock farmers were selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analysed using frequency, percentage, and ranking techniques. The results revealed that lack of proven breeding males, high cost of concentrates, inadequate awareness regarding preventive healthcare practices, low affordability for scientific animal sheds, and absence of organised milk marketing systems were the major constraints in dairy farming. In goat rearing, lack of knowledge on improved breeds, balanced feeding, preventive healthcare, scientific management practices, and non-remunerative prices offered by middlemen emerged as the most severe constraints. The study highlights the need for strengthening mobile veterinary services, capacity-building programmes, financial assistance for infrastructure development, establishment of organised marketing systems, and promotion of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to enhance adoption of recommended practices and improve the livelihoods of tribal farmers.