S.K. RAUTARAY
The College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Central Agricultural University (CAU) centre of the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Utilization of Animal Energy (UAE) carried out a survey of draught animals (bullocks) and their utilization for agricultural operations as per the cropping system in the village Dikling (Koyung) and Naitam of East Sikkim.
The survey included type of work animals, breed, age, market price, size and body dimensions, annual use, use hour/day, type and size of animal shed, system of dung and urine handling in animal shed, type of feed and fodder used, schedule of feeding and maintenance practice followed, health care measures, custom hiring of bullocks to neighboring farmers, labourers engaged per season, traditional implements available, practice of dung and urine disposal, major crops grown, area, yield, cost of production and annual net returns to farmers and others.
The physiolocal parameters of bullocks (respiration rate, pulse rate, body temperature, physical distress symptoms and others) were measured. The farmers, as reported, grow rice, maize, buckwheat, kodo, black gram, large cardamom, ginger and vegetables.
The yield of maize, kodo, buckwheat and black gram were 1350, 800, 1000, and 800 kg/ha respectively. The cropping intensity were 117% and 123% in village(s) Naitam and Dikling respectively. 45 families were practicing agriculture in Dikling and 130 in village Naitam. The cultivable area in Dikiling was 10.12 ha which were exclusively managed by animal and human power.
The animal drawn traditional implements (country plough, dande, harness and sickles) are only in use by the farmers. The farmers have shown their willingness to adopt improved animal drawn equipment after acquiring skills on operation of those by learning through demonstrations and trainings. There were adequate labourers for farming activities in the village.
The labour wage varied Rs. 100-150/day. The livestock population were 215 and 367 in villages (s) Dikling and Naitam respectively.
Green fodder (30-50kg/day-bullock) and concentrate (ground maize, mustard oil cake and salt mixture) at the rate of 0.5-1 kg/day-bullock during were normally fed by the farmers. All the animal shelters vary in sizes from 4.6x2.85x2.1 m to 7.4x2.65x2 m being open from all sides and having kachha flooring with mild slope (15 mm in 3 m length of floor).
The compost pits were generally away from the cattle shed. The disposable channel (1.4x1.4x0.8 m) for urine was provided by only one farmer. 90 % animal shed were made of thatched roof and kachcha flooring.
The annual use of bullocks was 25 days (@ 3-6 hour daily) and market price of bullocks (Breed: Indigenous/non-descriptive) varied from Rs. 15000/- to Rs 20,000/- per pair. All farmers owned local-non descriptive (pahadi) bullocks. The body dimension of bullocks (girth x length) varied from 1.37x1.07 m to 1.62x1.28 m. As per the body dimensions, the body weight was computed: 185.69 to 310.60 kg per bullock. The total number of bullocks pair available in the village was 11. The area dependable on one pair of bullocks was 0.92 ha. The cost of feeding was Rs. 96/day-pair of bullocks. The cost of maintenance per day-bullock pair was worked out to be Rs. 235/day.
The custom hiring of bullocks with plough and operator was adopted by 83.3% farmers at the rate of Rs.400/day. It showed that the remaining area can be better managed by adoption of animal drawn improved equipment which would reduce human drudgery and cover more area for cultivation in the village.
The CAEPHT centre of the AICRP on UAE has been making valuable scientific contribution for efficient utilization of draft animal power in Sikkim. The approach for development of equipment and technologies for animal based farming in hills/terraces of Sikkim has been focused to develop low cost/cost effective equipment to get more output per unit time from the existing draft animals in the state. Besides skill oriented training and awareness visits on improved equipment and technologies are being conducted for the benefits of the farmers. The draft animals available as the progenies of milch cattles would continue to be the major source of power for cultivation in hill region of Sikkim. Moreover the draft animals being the holistic source of rural power may minimize the dependence on fossil fuel getting costlier day by day and it would ensure green cultivation. Therefore the need is to refine and promote draft animal based technologies suiting to the need of the farmers of Sikkim.
The survey was conducted by Dr. R.K Tiwari, Research Engineer and Principal Investigator, UAE along with Dr. B.K Mehta, Livestock Assistant of CAEPHT, Ranipool.
[The writer is Professor & Head of Department of Farm Power & Machinery, CAEPHT, Ranipool]
good, CAEPHT is doing something for sikkim.
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