Pig rearing and its marketing system adopted by the Rabha community of Assam

SAYASHREE  RABHA; NABA KUMAR  SARMA; RAJ JYOTI  DEKA; TANMOY  MEDHI

doi:10.56093/ijans.v96i6.173531

Authors

SAYASHREE RABHA College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati- 781 022, Assam, India
NABA KUMAR SARMA College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati- 781 022, Assam, India
RAJ JYOTI DEKA College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati- 781 022, Assam, India
TANMOY MEDHI College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, Khanapara, Guwahati- 781 022, Assam, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v96i6.173531

Keywords:

Constraints, Income, Marketing, Piggery, Piglet, Pork, Tribal farmers

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Kamrup and Goalpara districts of Assam where majority of the Rabha population resides. One hundred fifty pig farmers from each district belonging to the Rabha tribe, rearing at least two number of pigs, were selected. The study revealed that 91.00 % of farmers reared 2-6 pigs, earning an average annual income of Rs.49670.00±2484.26 from piggery. The share of piggery to the total income of farmer was 47.89 %. About 73.00 % of these farmers marketed their pigs at the age of 6 months and above, followed by as pork (14.33 %), and as piglet (12.67 %). The average age of pigs at the time of marketing was found to be 234.98±4.7 days with an average sale price of Rs.3560.33±14.50, Rs.13834.00±326.00 and Rs.313.53±1.22 for piglet, adult pig and pork (per kg), respectively. About 39.33 % reported lack of finances as the major constraint faced in rearing and marketing of pigs, followed by lack of availability of quality feed (28.00 %), exploitation by middleman or agent (12.00 %), inadequate veterinary facilities (10.00 %), disease outbreak or mortality of animals (6.00 %), non availability of quality animals (2.67 %), lack of technical and market knowledge (1.67 %) and inadequate marketing facilities (0.33 %). A total of 74.33 % of the pig farmers sold their pigs directly to agents or wholesaler, 20 % sold locally on social occasion or to local customers and 5.67 % sold directly to market. Majority of the farmers (51.00 %) bought their piglets from the local market, followed by local farms (40.33 %), agents or wholesaler (6.33 %) and government farms (2.33 %). Urgency of money (58.00 %), followed by appropriate weight gain or getting the right price (21.67 %), social occasions (17.33 %) and occurrence of diseases (3.00 %) were the major reasons for selling the pigs.

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