Documentation and validation of scientific rationality of ITKs relating to fodder management and livestock health

Abstract

Livestock sector supplements farmer’s income and helps to absorbs income shocks due to crop failure in drought/ floods. Indigenous traditional knowledge (ITKs) has always played an important role in addressing shocks and managing livestock. A study was undertaken to document and analyze scientific rationality of the ITKs related to livestock, in northern transition (zone 8) and hilly zone (zone 9) of Karnataka. Totally 37 ITKs of livestock (20 from study area and 17 from literature) were subjected for analyzing scientific rationality. Out of these 20 ITKs were collected from study area through focus group discussions from 200 farmers of 8 villages. It was done in 2020-2021 by consulting 30 animal scientists. Data was analysed using mean, standard deviation and Chi square to know the variability in responses. Study revealed that only 8 ITKs found to be highly rational, 17 ITKs as moderately rational and 12 ITKs belonged to less rational category. However moderately rational ITKs provide lot of scope for experimentation to fine tune so that these ITKs could be upgraded to highly rational category. It is proposed that already practicing ITKs if fine tuned have better adoption among farming community.