Livestock Extension Services Delivery In India: In Search of a Paradigm

Mahesh Chander R K Ravikumar Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar INDIA

Introduction
Poor productivity and quality of production -a cause of concern in Indian livestock sector For productivity improvement, technology generation, technology dissemination, technology users and support mechanisms need to be geared up Effective provision of information on animal husbandry is important as it informs about the policies and strategies of government, livestock development programmes, new technologies and also about the scientific management practices of livestock
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Percentage of farmer households in India obtaining information on Animal Husbandry through selected sources

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

% of farmer households accessing information % of such households accessing information on animal husbandry

Input dealer

Radio

Other Progressive farmer

Any source
Source: NSSO, GOI, 2005

Livestock Extension Services Delivery In India: In Search of a Paradigm

Distribution of farmer households by type of information accessed on Animal Husbandry

Others
Radio

Health care
Input dealer

feeding Breeding 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Other Progressive farmer Any source

Source: NSSO, GOI, 2005

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Introduction
Productivity is the function of quality research, type of extension services and farmers preparedness Productivity may be substantially improved by effective targeted extension services focused on livestock development Education and extension contacts enable Farmers to acquire, receive and decode new information to evaluate benefits of alternative sources of economically useful information and to have earlier access to such information This necessitates a system through which farmer can receive desired information The livestock extension activities in India are sporadic and do not meet the requirements of a vast majority of farmers
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Introduction
Since 1960s many agricultural development programmes including Training & Visit (T&V) were introduced under the guidance of Department of Agriculture (DoA) But, the farmers see village extension workers as crop specialists and do not go to them for livestock information. Various livestock development programmes initiated by government could not improve the productivity of the milch animals substantially for the want of a specialized extension service for livestock farmers
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Introduction
The livestock extension activities by public agencies are also facing severe budgetary constraints The investment of the GOI in livestock sector is extremely low and varied between 0.4 percent and 1.0 percent National Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) commits less than 10 percent of its budget to information delivery The low investment by the DAHD in information delivery including livestock extension activities is also likely to be followed by the state departments, which often face budgetary constraints
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General allocation pattern of funds by department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GOI (1996-97)
Technology Development Health Services
9% 10% 2% 38% 3%

Feed& Fodder Development Breeding & genetic Improvement Education

30% 8%

Extension activities Misc

Source: GOI, 1998

Livestock Extension Services Delivery In India: In Search of a Paradigm

Agencies Dealing with Livestock Extension Service in India

Directorate of Extension, Ministry of Agriculture

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)/DAC

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Krishi Vigyan Kedra (KVKs) State Agricultural Universities State Department of Animal Husbandry (SDAH)

Livestock Extension Services Delivery In India: In Search of a Paradigm

Need for a Specialized Livestock Extension Service

The sectorial approaches introduced through the T & V system meant that, in practice, the form of extension was oriented for crop production and livestock was neglected Most models try to integrate livestock into general extension systems by providing cross training of crop specialists in the areas of livestock production and vice versa. But in practice, its availability has been patchy and obviously affected the quality of the extension service to the livestock owners

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Specialized livestock extension service has different requirements

Because of longer time scale of animal production slower speed of technology development lack of synchronous of different animals difficulty in demonstrating merits because of their poor observability frequently dispersed and non uniform needs of the livestock owners

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SDAH - Main actor

The SDAH have the widest mandate for livestock development and are best placed to deliver livestock production information Available throughout the country for livestock owners to consult for information on livestock related issues The services of SDAH can be effectively utilized for livestock extension education activities, especially when (i) there is no specialized or separate livestock extension service in operation in India, (ii) the possibility of creating a separate/independent agency for livestock extension under the government is very remote
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Activities of SDAH having bearing on Extension

Veterinary staff engages in informal extension when

interacting with livestock keepers

Camps are organized to provide clinical veterinary treatment as well as to pass on information

Livestock fairs, shows and competitions are occasionally run

at district and village locations Programmes for cattle, Poultry, small ruminants and pig production have extension components

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Administrative Set Up - Directorate Of Veterinary Services, Tamil Nadu

Director of Veterinary Services Addl.Director (Livestock development) Joint Director (Extension) Deputy Director (Personnel) Admn. Officer Coop sub registrar Office manager Addl.Director (Veterinary Services) Deputy Director (Sample Survey)
Assistant Directors 1. Veterinary institutions 2. Publicity and Propaganda 3. Rinderpest Officer 4. Planning 5. Schemes 6. Manual revision

Financial advisor & Chief Accounts Officer

Deputy Registrar (Coop)

Accounts Officer

Veterinary Assistant Surgeons (VASs) 1. Junior Research Statistician 3. Animal Disease Surveillance 5. Rinderpest 7. Annual Administrative report

2. Publicity and Propaganda 4. Field Officer 6. Office

Assistant Accounts Officer

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Problems of SDAH in livestock extension services delivery

No physical targets and achievement details in extension work

Shortage of funds for transport and travel allowances limits the ability of staff to travel
Veterinary functionaries are expected to perform twenty-five multifarious activities in which extension is one (Venkatadri, 2002) The expenditure incurred over the years by various SDAH in India on livestock extension activities was found to be only around 1-3% of their total budget Lack of staff devoted specifically to extension
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Suggestions to improve livestock extension service

A. Overhauling of institutional set up

streamline the livestock extension services rendered by the SDAH especially by knowing
i. ii. what type of extension activities the SDAH is conducting for information delivery and through what mechanisms and facilities? How much importance they attach to livestock extension service?

iii. How far and in what ways the livestock owners seek advice from the SDAH?

iv. In what way the livestock extension service can be improved upon?

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B. Revitalization of operational mechanism

The institutional structure must possess a qualified advisory service Extension orientation among the field functionaries replacing the clinical approach

Analyzing the existing strength and resources and to build on the same for further improvement so that improved technologies reach the grassroots level for integration with the production system
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Conclusion
Absence of clear-cut policy on livestock extension service and delineating that role to any organization in India National livestock policy indicating the goals and objectives set for the livestock development is required for livestock extension service delivery The livestock extension policy has to take into account the goals of the National livestock policy i.e increasing productivity alongside ensuring quality
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Conclusion
It is important to determine the nature and type of extension service extended by DAHD & various SDAH Creating a separate unit within the SDAH for livestock extension activities and provision of enhanced budget, staff, vehicles and other infrastructure Contract farming for milk and meat production may improve delivery of extension messages to contract farmers
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