Development Of A Cattle And Sheep Farm

Livestock sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy particularly in reducing poverty among the weaker sections of the society. Livestock not only provides a continuous stream of income but also acts as natural capital assets for the poor in adverse conditions. India is having huge population of livestock but their production potential is below the global average. Besides this, a continuous rise in the demand of livestock products opens door for dissemination of latest innovative methods among livestock owners, farmers, farm women, etc in order to enhance livestock production potential. This requires a strong extension support with trained extension professionals, who may help farmers in identifying their problems, help them to find out solutions to these problems and provide them the required technical know-how with plenty of information. The primary objective of this book is to increase the proficiency of extension workers as well as improve their proficiency competence by acquainting them with the latest developments in livestock sector and enabling them in better understanding of the existing problems in the villages. This book is also helpful for graduate, postgraduate and doctorate students pursuing studies in veterinary dairy, agriculture, fisheries, and other related sciences and provides them a first hand information on important aspects related to contribution of livestock to national income, community development, panchayati raj, livestock development programmes, audio-visual aids, extension teaching methods, programme planning, adoption and diffusion process, livestock marketing as well as animal husbandry management and administration. We are sure that this book will be beneficial for professors, teachers, trainers, researchers and extension professionals engaged in veterinary and animal husbandry extension and other professional courses.

The objectives of this study are to assess the role of small ruminants (sheep and goats) in the food production systems of developing countries, examine their advantages and disadvantages, analyze the constraints limiting their further contribution to the welfare of small farm/low income rural producers, prescribe measures for overcoming these constraints, and make recommendations related to potential donor involvement in support of the development of sheep and goat production. Small ruminants are viewed as an integral, but not dominant component of complex agricultural systems. Particular emphasis is placed on sheep and goats in mixed herds grazing dry rangelands and in small mixed farm systems in medium to high rainfall areas. An analysis of major constraints -- ecological, biological, policy, and socio-economic -- leads to recommendations on the need for a balanced production system approach for research, training and development programs, and for a combination of support activities such as herd health programs, and formulation of favorable credit, marketing and pricing policies for small ruminants and their products.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) produced a 2011 report on women in agriculture with a clear and urgent message: agriculture underperforms because half of all farmers—women—lack equal access to the resources and opportunities they need to be more productive. This book builds on the report’s conclusions by providing, for a non-specialist audience, a compendium of what we know now about gender gaps in agriculture.