Coping mechanisms adopted by the livestock dependents of drought prone districts of Bihar, India

RANDHIR KUMAR GOSWAMI; SANJIT MAITI; SANCHITA GARAI; S K JHA; M BHAKAT; B S CHANDEL; K S KADIAN

doi:10.56093/ijans.v88i3.78378

Authors

RANDHIR KUMAR GOSWAMI MSc Research Scholar, Division of Dairy Extension, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
SANJIT MAITI Scientist, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
SANCHITA GARAI Scientist, Division of Dairy Extension, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
S K JHA Principal Scientist, Division of Dairy Extension, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
M BHAKAT Senior Scientist, Livestock Production and Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India
B S CHANDEL Principal Scientist, Division of Dairy Economics, Statistics and Management
K S KADIAN Head, Division of Dairy Extension, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132 001 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v88i3.78378

Keywords:

Bihar, Coping mechanisms, Drought, Livestock dependents

Abstract

Coping mechanisms adopted by the farming community has recently become a subject of increasing importance in climate change research with an objective to reduce the vulnerability of climate sensitive people. The present study was designed to identify and assess the coping mechanisms adopted by the livestock dependents to mitigate the impact of drought on their livestock rearing and livelihood security. A total 240 livestock dependents from three drought prone districts of Bihar were interviewed and an exclusively Drought adaptation Index was developed for this study. The study revealed that 49 adaptation strategies were adopted by the livestock dependents which were further distributed into seven broad categories. Most significant coping mechanisms were feeding of extra crop residues, providing frequent extra clean and fresh feed and water, storage of wheat/rice straw, change in cropping pattern, feeding and milking during cool hours, kept animal in shadow, extra bathing of cattle, feeding of extra concentrate, selling of animals and reducing herd size. The study also established that adoption of coping mechanism was increased significantly with the increase in degree of drought proneness and herd size was the most significant contributor to the higher level of adoption of coping mechanisms.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anonymous. 2014. Memorandum to the central government seeking assistance for combating drought in Bihar 2013. Department of Disaster Management, Government of Bihar.

Carter M R and Jansen S A. 2012. Coping with Drought: Assessing the Impacts of Livestock Insurance in Kenya Index Innovation Initiative, 14–1.

Deressa T T, Hassan R M and Ringler C. 2011. Perception and adaptation to climate change by farmers in the Nile basin of Ethiopia. Journal of Agricultural Science 149(1): 23–31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859610000687

Dhaka B L, Chayal K and Poonia M K. 2010. Analysis of farmers’ perception and adaptation strategies to climate change. Libyan Agriculture Research Centre Journal International 1(6): 388– 90.

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). 2013. AQUASTAT database [online]. Available at http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/main/index.stm [accessed 20.09.13].

Hassan R and Nhemachena C. 2008. Determinants of climatic adaptation strategies of African farmers: multinomial choice analysis. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 2: 83–104.

India Meteorological Department. 2002. Southwest monsoon- end of season report. Available at http://www.imd.gov.in/section/nhac/dynamic/mid1.htm.

Kangalawe R Y M and Liwenga E T. 2005. Livelihoods in the wetlands of kilombero valley in Tanzania: Opportunities and challenges to integrated water resource management. Physics and Chemistry of Earth 30: 968–75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2005.08.044

Kattumuri R, Ravindranath D and Esteves T. 2015. Local adaptation strategies in semi-arid regions: study of two villages in Karnataka, India. Climate and Development 9(1): 36–49. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2015.1067179

Knapp D M and Grummer R R. 1991. Response of lactating dairy cows to fat supplementation during heat stress. Journal of Dairy Science 74: 2573–79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(91)78435-X

Liwenga E T, Kangalawe R Y M, Lyimo J G, Majule A E and Ngana J O. 2007. Research Protocols for Assessing the Impact of CC & V in Rural Tanzania: Water, Food Systems, Vulnerability and Adaptation. START/PACOM, African Global Change Research.

Maiti S, Jha S K, Garai S, Nag A, Chakravarty R, Kadian K S, Datta K K and Mandal S. 2014b. Determinants to climate change adaptation among the livestock-rearers of eastern coastal region of India. Journal of Indian Society of Coastal Agricultural Research 32(2): 80–86.

Maiti S, Jha S K, Garai S, Nag A, Chakravarty R, Kadian K S, Chandel B S, Datta K K and Upadhaya R C. 2014a. Adaptation strategies followed by the livestock rearers of coastal Odisha and West Bengal to cope up with climate change. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 84(6): 652–59.

Mallone P G, Beede D K, Collier R J and Wilcox C J. 1985. Production and psychological response of dairy cows to varying dietary potassium during heat stress. Journal of Dairy Science 68: 1479. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(85)80986-3

Mandleni B and Anim F D K. 2011. Climate change awareness and decision on adaptation measures by livestock farmers in South Africa. Journal of Agricultural Science 3(3): 258–68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v3n3p258

Masendeke S and Shoko K. 2013. Drought coping strategies and their effectiveness: The case of Ward 12 in Mberengwa district of Zimbabwe. International Journal of Social Science Studies 2(1): 137–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v2i1.299

Mishra A K and Singh V P. 2010. A review of drought concept. Journal Hydrology 391: 202–16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.07.012

Mogotsi K, Nyangito M M and Nyariki D M. 2011. Drought management strategies among agro-pastoral communities in non-equilibrium Kalahari ecosystems. Environmental Research Journal 5(4): 156–62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/erj.2011.156.162

Nagarajan R. 2010. Drought Assessment. 1st edn. Springer Science and Business Media, Netherland with Capital Publishing Company, New Delhi.

Nhemachena C and Hassan R. 2007. Micro-level analysis of farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Southern Africa. IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 00714. International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D.C.

Rathore M S. 2005. State level analysis of drought policies and impacts in Rajasthan, India. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Rosenzweig C, Tubiello F N, Goldberg R, Mills E and Bloomfield J. 2002. Increased crop damage in the US from excess precipitation under climate change. Global Environment Change: Human Dimensions and Policy 12(3): 197–202. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-3780(02)00008-0

Schneider P L, Beede D K, Wiicox C J and Collier R J. 1984. Influence of dietary sodium and potassium bicarbonate and total potassium on heat stressed lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 67: 2546. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(84)81611-2

Singh M K. 2014. ‘Drought Coping Strategies among Dairy Farmers in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.’ M.Sc Thesis, NDRI, Karnal, Haryana.

Sirohi S and Sirohi S. 2010. Vulnerability of milk producers to climate change: technological and policy options for livelihood security. Published in the compendium of National Symposium on Climate Change and Livestock Productivity in India at NDRI, Karnal during October 7–8, 2010.

Syomiti M, Maranga E, Obwoyere G, Dana H, Beatrice M, Wamae D and Duyu J. 2015. The adaptive and coping strategies of pastoralists to climate change in Baringo, Laikipia and Nyeri counties of Kenya. Livestock Research for Rural Development. Volume 27, Article # 248.

Udmale P, Ichikawa Y, Manandhar S, Ishidaira H and Kiem A S. 2014. Farmers’ perception of drought impacts, local adaptation and administrative mitigation measures in Maharashtra state, India. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 10: 250–69. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2014.09.011

Upadhyay R C, Ashutosh, Raina V S and Singh S V. 2009. Impact of climate change on reproduction functions of cattle and buffaloes. Global Climate Change and Indian Agriculture. Pp. 107–10. (Ed.) Aggarwal P K, ICAR, New Delhi.

World Bank. 2003. Report on financial onset natural disaster losses in India: a risk management approach. Washington DC, The World Bank.