Extension educational efforts by State Department of Animal Husbandry (SDAH), Tamil Nadu: SWOT analysis

R K Ravikumar and Mahesh Chander*

National Innovation Foundation, Bungalow No.1, Satellite complex, Jodhpur Tekra, Premchand Nagar Road, Ahmedabad, India 380 015.
rkravikumar_1999@yahoo.com and visitrkravikumar@rediffmail.com
* Division of Extension Education, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar 243 122.
mahesh@ivri.up.nic.in

Abstract

Animal husbandry and dairy development plays a prominent role in the rural economy by supplementing the income of rural households. The major agency responsible for livestock development is the State Department of Animal Husbandry (SDAH). Keeping this in view, SWOT analysis of SDAH, Tamil Nadu state, India was done with respect to its extension education role. The study was based on the information available through annual reports of SDAH, information elicited from Director, Veterinary Assistant Surgeons (VASs), Livestock Inspectors (LIs) of the SDAH and Livestock owners (LOs).

The major parameters like organization structure, clarity regarding extension functions, infrastructure facilities, number of veterinary institutions, sensitivity and promotion of extension programmes, in-service training programmes, level of contact by Livestock owners and number of veterinary personnel's were taken into account.

The results indicate that though the top level hierarchy had clear role perception towards extension educational efforts, due to inadequate infrastructure facilities, poor level of training towards extension programme and lack of personnel diminished any extension service to the LOs. LOs on the other hand without any gender prejudice depend on these veterinary institutions not only for the animal health concerns but also demanding more livestock related information.

Keywords: Animal husbandry department, India, livestock extension service, livestock inspector, veterinary assistant surgeon, veterinary institutions

Introduction

The contribution of livestock sector increased from 14 per cent in 1980 -81 to current 25 percent, to the total value of agriculture proves its importance to Indian economy. It provides employment to about 9.56 million persons in principal status and about 7.86 million persons in subsidiary status in India (Kadirvel 2002; Government of India (GOI) 2002).

Livestock, particularly cattle, have a strong role in poverty alleviation, although the degree and nature of their contribution has varied (Rao et al 2002). Yet, in terms of productivity, India's huge livestock resources are one of the poorest in the world. The poor productivity as well as the quality of production, therefore, remains a cause of concern in livestock sector. The demand for information on different aspects of livestock production is growing; as also the great number of livestock are now kept by people without traditional background causes distinct pressure on Animal Husbandry Department to educate the owners.

Objective

The objective of this study was to understand the effective role of State Department of Animal Husbandry (SDAH) in extending livestock extension educational services to the livestock owners.

Materials and methods

The SWOT analysis of SDAH, Tamil Nadu state, India was done with respect to its extension education role based on the information available through annual reports of SDAH, information elicited from Director of SDAH Tamil Nadu State, India. In order to ensure the views of different stakeholders personnel interview were carried out by the first author with 40 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons (VASs), 40 Livestock Inspectors (LIs) and 160 livestock owners (LOs) from four districts viz., Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai, Salem and Dindigul of Tamil Nadu state, making the total sample size to 240. Sixteen Veterinary Dispensaries (VDs) were identified in four districts and 240 respondents were selected from 16 villages near the vicinity of these VDs.

Results and discussion

Strengths

Organizational structure

The Animal Husbandry Department is under the overall control of the Director of Veterinary Services and Director of Animal Husbandry. The state had separate extension unit, which is under the control of Joint Director (Extension), who is responsible for all activities in this section.

Clarity regarding extension functions

Livestock extension is understood by the Directorate as education and problem solving, organization of camps, farmer visits, providing market information to LOs and obtaining feed back from LOs portent well for taking any initiatives towards promotion of extension education.

Infrastructure facilities

Availability of separate printing unit, broadcast preparing unit and artists catering exclusively for extension related work.

Number of veterinary institutions (VIs) per CUs

In Tamil Nadu, each VIs serves 2382.64 CUs indicating the better position when compared with average coverage per VIs in India (5560.78 CUs) (Table 1).

Sensitivity towards extension education activities

The SDAH had collaboration with international agencies like Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) in executing extension related projects for livestock development for more than a decade.

Promotion of extension programmes

The state is front-runner in implementing centrally sponsored schemes like Assitance to State for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD), besides, extension programmes undertaken on its own like Special Livestock Protection Scheme (KPT). Annually on an average, 36,427 LOs were trained by the SDAH.

In-service training programmes

Training programmes were organized by SDAH regularly for veterinarians and para veterinarians. Apart from training within India, some veterinarians were trained even abroad with respect to extension orientation.

Level of contact by LOs

Institution contact by women LOs was found to be substantial and the state usually had favourable policy with respect to women LOs to venture outside their home. There was adequate encouragement for the women entrepreneurs to bring animals to various camps and training programmes conducted by SDAH.

Weaknesses

Insufficient number of veterinary personnel

There were only 1,378 veterinarians within SDAH serving for every 10,163 CUs, which is not at par with the NCA recommendation of one veterinarian for 5,000 CUs. It was also noticed that veterinarians serving outside the SDAH were not moving towards rural areas. Since the LOs mostly reside in the rural areas, it is inevitable for the SDAH to increase the number as per the recommendation.

Gap in the training of LOs

With the generous funding received under DANIDA scheme, the state could arrange for training of up to 8000 LOs every year. This number appears to be miniscule considering 134.50 lakhs CUs owned by LOs in the state. SDAH was woefully inadequate to cater to the needs of progressive LOs, thus, marring its image.

Biased training programmes for field functionaries

The trainings organized by the SDAH for VAS and LIs were skewed towards animal breeding and health care and not towards extension programmes.

Competitive strength

LOs felt that the messages delivered by the VIs were not in tune to their demands because SDAH relies on informal ways to assess LOs' informational needs. The information on prevention of mastitis, bloat, optimum time for insemination, modern livestock management and marketing strategies were not extended to LOs as per their need.

Inability to deliver

There was one VI for every 1193.75 sq. km area, which indicates that LOs had to spend lot of precious time and energy to bring their livestock to VIs, causing lot of distress to animals as well.

Vulnerabilities

The VIs were devoid of basic amenities like water resources and toilet facilities for the working personnel. Many old VDs needed serious renovation works and the newly upgraded VDs were located remotely taking away much of the time of veterinarians in traveling alone. The roads leading to many of the VDs were in highly deplorable condition that was reflected in the poor timings of the veterinarians. Poor educational facilities available to their children discourage veterinarians to stay in rural areas.

Deadlines and pressures

The SDAH personnel need to perform multitude of tasks besides performing AI and treatment that usually creates lot of physical wear and tear. The tired veterinarian himself/herself had to handle plenty of record works. These records were being evaluated by promoted LIs, which create lot of acrimony between veterinarians and para veterinarians. It was reported that veterinarians had to conduct/attend minimum 4 camps per month, that affects their knowledge upgradation.

Attrition in cash flow

During the past three years (2001 to 2003) less than 0.05 per cent of the total budget was spent on extension educational efforts.

Morale, commitment

The attitude of veterinarians and para veterinarians was not in favour of extending extension programmes. Short-term policy initiatives, lack of targets, poor recruitment policy, irregular and isolated number of extension programmes were the characteristics of the department. Extension efforts like farmers' meet, educational tour, livestock and Poultry shows, film/video shows were either not at all performed or highly limited. Education of LOs was given least priority by the veterinary and para veterinary personnel. Consultation by LOs with the resource personnel viz., VAS and LI was found to be abysmally poor. The service accessibility for LOs during afternoon session was also highly limited.

Clarity in the extension concept among field functionaries

Poor clarity in the concept of extension education and lack of competency to perform extension educational activities among LI and VAS was prominently noticed.

Conduction of extension programmes

The morbid status of extension programmes was due to lack of adequate number of attenders, inadequate coordination with other agencies, lack of mobile facilities for field functionaries and poor supply of extension aids. Extension aids requiring adequate time to prepare and involving high cost were rarely provided to field functionaries and even their distribution to LOs were left with the discretion of VAS and LIs.

Opportunities

Untapped LOs

Under-penetrated stakeholders like agricultural labourer are high potential farm holders especially for livestock production. The level of autarky can be increased by promoting them to rear low investment ventures like sheep, goats not only during their off season in agriculture but throughout the year.

Increased farm diversification

There is tremendous scope for farm diversification through the livestock species like Pig, Rabbit, Turkey and Emu.

Lack of information

Instead of supporting only sustenance farming, the capacity of the LOs can be improved to think towards commercialization of Animal Husbandry. The increase in the knowledge of green fodder production, timing of insemination, promotion of modern techniques in livestock farming like usage of milking machine, maintenance of record, adequate stock replacement ratio in the farm, regularity in deworming and vaccination to livestock should be dovetailed for production towards commercial line. The absence of any form of institutional support had crippled even to obtain the legitimate insurance claim for these LOs.

Value addition in livestock products

The demands for new livestock products is increasing but LOs are not in a position to expand their product profile. Value addition to the products not only enhances their income sources but also causes ripple effects on employment.

Re -energizing small holders

Sheep and goat together constitutes 11.66 lakh CUs, almost 8.67 percentage of total cattle units in the state, but the efforts to raise these species on more scientific and commercial lines was found to be lacking. The owners of these species lead nomadic life, which, was also under threat and henceforth need special attention by the state machineries.

Untapped export potential

The state machineries were not geared up to increase the repertoire of LOs towards export marketing of livestock products. With the help of advisory services, progressive LOs in due course of time can obtain the latest know-how like the type of animal to be reared, type of product to be promoted (e.g. Organic products), the level of demand in the international market by associating with various institutions.

Threats

Weak political commitment and support

Low profile legislators occupied the ministerial position in agriculture and allied sectors. The general lack of strong local leadership had resulted in inadequate participation of rural communities in livestock development.

Inept personnel

Livestock sector was plagued by involvement of unauthorized personnel who propound unethical treatment. These unauthorized personnel need to be checked by framing appropriate legislative guidelines.

Pressure on natural resources

Population pressure, overstocking of livestock coupled with overgrazing in the community pastureland speedily depleting the resources.

Proletariat LOs

The poor educational status of the LOs did not auger well for introduction of latest IT developments.

More personnel in livestock sector

The policy of the government was to weed out more than required number of population from primary sectors like livestock so as to promote tertiary sectors. The villages in Tamil Nadu were in the process of transition, which had generated considerable tensions in security.

This SWOT analysis shows that the 'strengths' and 'opportunities' far outweigh 'weaknesses' and 'threats'. Strengths and opportunities are fundamental and weaknesses and threats are transitory (Table 2).

Conclusions

• The presence of separate directorates for animal husbandry service is the major advantage in having proper policy and sensitivity towards extension educational programmes. However, poor resource personnel, non specific messages, lack of organized message delivery system, poor budget allocation and lack of clarity towards extension service by the veterinary resource personnel were the cause for concern.

• The gross root level functionaries need to perform multitude of task it is imperative for the top management to assign reasonable targets. As majority of the livestock population is still in the hands of poor livestock owners the SDAH with its vast institutional network apart from its health related service should provide need specific information, which should promote farm diversification and value addition to the livestock products. This will ensure considerable number of younger generation to look forward livestock as a potential business venture rather than mere sustenance nature.

References

GOI (Government of India) 2002 Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (AH and D), Ministry of Agriculture, Krishi Bhavan, New Delhi.

Kadirvel R 2002 Limited investment but consistent growth. In: Survey on Indian Agriculture. The Hindu, Chennai, pp. 147 - 150.

Rao S V N, Ramkumar S and Kevin Waldie 2002 Dairy Farming by Landless Women in Southern States of India. In: Jan Morrenhof; Vinod Ahuja and Ashok Tripathy (Editors), Livestock Services and the Poor. In: Papers, Proceedings and Presentations of the International Workshop, Bhubaneswar, India, pp. 73-86.

Sudeepkumar N K 1999 Manpower planning of veterinary personnel in Tamilnadu, Department of Extension, Veterinary college and Research Institute. Ph.D thesis, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TNVAS), Chennai.

Tamil Nadu 2002 Policy note, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department (AHFD), Government of Tamil Nadu. 

Tamil Nadu 2003 Policy note, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department (AHFD), Government of Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu 2004 Policy note, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department (AHFD), Government of Tamil Nadu. 

Received 17 November 2005; Accepted 4 July 2006; Published 12 September 2006

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