ISSN 2477-0531
IMPACT OF LIVESTOCK SECTOR FOR RURAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION
IN CHITTOOR DISTRICT
Vasu Jalari1* and M. Devarajulu1
1
Department of Economics. Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, India
*
Corresponding Author: vasujalari@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Livestock sector plays avigorous role in socio-economic progress of rural families. Livestock rearing has substantial
optimistic influence on equity in terms of employment, income and poverty lessening in rural zones by way of dispersal
of livestock is more democratic as compared to land for agriculture purposes. In Andhra Pradesh, more than 5 percent of
the rural households own livestock and a majority of livestock owning households are small, marginal and landless
households. Small animals like sheep, goats, pigs and poultry are largely kept by the land scarce poor households for
commercial purposes due to their low initial investment and operational costs. In the recent decade, demand for various
livestock based products has increased considerably due to rise in per capita income, urbanization, taste and preference
and increased awareness about food nutrition. Livestock sector is likely to arise as an appliance for agricultural progress in
the coming years. This study only confined to Sree Rangaraja Puram Mandal in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh.
In this paper author will make an attempt to analyses the performance of livestock sector in terms of livestock population,
production, employment and income on one hand and the role of livestock sector in reducing rural poverty on the other.
The study will also highlight the various major problems facing by the people those who are engaging in livestock sector in
Sree Rangaraja Puram Mandal of Chittoor district.
Keywords: livestock sector, poverty, employment, income, households
INTRODUCTION
Persistent hunger and underfeeding remain a foremost problem today in various parts of India. According
to Fan (2014) about 842 million people or one in eight people globally go to bed hungry every day. In
addition, about 2 billion people suffer from ‘hidden hunger’ or deficiency of essential nutrients like iron,
vitamins and zinc. On other hand, population of India is increasing at pace and it is projected that by 2020 it
will reach to 130 crore. It is expected that demand will increase and India need more food. More
possessions will be looked-for along with diversified strategies to support the decreasing livelihoods.
Livestock not only holds potential to be income generating source but also viable solution to poverty,
malnutrition and hunger. In India about70 percent people residing in rural areas are directly or indirectly
dependent on livestock sector for their livelihood. Benefits of livestock sector are multifaceted. Livestock
holds the potential to reduce poverty, hunger and food insecurity through provision of quality food and income
generating source. Shahid et al. (2013) extended the contribution of livestock towards income, transportation,
drought power and also the source of renewable energy and fertilizer for the agriculture. Ultimate purpose
of livestock rearing and livestock management practices is to earn income for the livelihood sustainability
as income generated help in improving livelihoods (Butler et al., 2007). Ali (2007) presented that livestock
is providing income to 675 million farmers around the globe having full dependency on livestock sector.
Livestock is helping the rural at micro level for their uplift.
Livestock sector plays an important role in Indian economy and is an important sub-sector of Indian
Agriculture. The contribution of livestock to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)was Rs. 4.06 lakh Crore and
3.88 percent in 2013-2014 at 2011-2012 prices. This is the sector where the poor contribute to growth
directly instead of getting benefit from growth generated elsewhere. The overall growth rate in livestock
24 Asian Journal For Poverty Studies 3(1): 24 - 29
Impact of livestock sector for rural poverty alleviation
sector is steady and is around 4 to 5 percent without adequate investment in the sector. Among rural
households, ownership of the livestock is more evenly distributed than land and other assets. The progress
in the sector results in balanced development of the rural economy particularly in reducing the poverty
amongst the socially and economically weakersection. The rural women play a significant role in Animal
Husbandry and are directly involved in most of the operations relating to feeding, breeding, management
and healthcare of the livestock.
Census data revealed that India accounts for 20 percent of the world's goat population with annual
growth rate of 1.6 percent (AH&D, 2005). During the period from 1951 to 2012, there has been a growth of
155.3 to 190.9millionin the cattle population and 43.4 to 108.7 million in buffalo population whereas the
population of sheep increased by 39.1 to 65.1 millionand those of goat and poultry increased by about 47.2
to 135.2 and 73.5 to 729.2 million respectively (NDDB, 2015). The reasons for high growth rate in number
of small ruminants are low cost and handy technology to the landless labourers, marginal farmers and
industrial workers and requirement of less volume of feed, more resistant to diseases,easily manageable by
child or female and easy market accessibility.
Crop farming is the major source of income in rural areas in India especially in Andhra Pradesh.
However, climate change, insufficient rain fall, increasing cost of production, low productivity, non-availability
of expected price for their agricultural output and larger conversion of farm land into non-farm activities in
Andhra Pradesh are limited to support peoples' livelihoods. The same situations are happened in recent past
in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. So under these circumstances some of the people of rural areas are
more depending on livestock activity in Chittoor district. Lives-tock farming is also significant sector
supporting the livelihoods of farmers in multiple manners in Chittoor district.
Livestock sector offers food in the form of milk and meat and other products. Food is the essential
necessitate of human beings and food industry is at the top among the industries in the world (Khalil, 2007;
IFCN, 2010). Food shortage is a big challenge being faced by the developing and backward countries
particularly in rural India. Livestock products have a main contribution in fulfilling food requirement
through protein and fats in milk, meat other livestock products. Hence, to amplify the livestock production
among livestock growers and to tackle food shortage and dwindling livelihoods, it is inevitable for livestock
farmers to rethink and adopt site specific and advanced livestock production practices. In this cont ext
present study was conducted to investigate the potential of livestock in uplifting rural livelihoods in Sri
Rangaraja Puram Mandal of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh only.The study has the fallowing objectives: 1)
to study the demographic features and ownership of land of sample respondents in Durgaraja Puram village;
2) to assess the methods of livestock farming and income status of sample respondents in study area; and 3)
to analyse the impact of livestock on socio-economic aspects of sample respondents in Durgaraja Puram village.
RESEARCH METHOD
Study area and selection of sample
The study was conducted at Durgaraja Puram Village in Sri Rangaraja Puram Mandal of Chittoor
district only. Almost in all the revenue villages in the district as well as in the mandal livestock is reared
and denoted as one of the major income generating source. Census method sampling technique was used for
the selection of sample in the village. There are total 90households in Durgaraja Puram village of Sri
Rangaraja Puram Mandal. Out of the total 90households in Durgaraja Puram village, 90households were
selected for study. A complete list of livestock producers was obtained from the office of District Officer
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and this list acted as sampling farmer supporting selection of livestock
producers.
Data collection and analysis
Study was quantitative and for the sake of data collection interview schedule was prepared as research
instrument. After the validity and reliability assessment instrument was ready for the final data collection.
Researcher personally conducted the face to face interviews. Livestock keepers were approached at their
farms and homes. In addition, observations and informal discussions were also carried out for the data
validation and triangulation. Collected data were analyzed by using appropriate statistical techniques.
Asian Journal For Poverty Studies 3(1): 24 - 29 25
Jalari and Devarajulu
Considering the nature of data simple frequencies and percentages were determined. Mean and standard
deviation were also measured for better knowledge.
Limitation of the study
The study was completely based on primary data sources. The present study was confined to study
the role of livestock activity and its impact on poverty alleviation in rural areas in Sri Rangaraja Puram
mandal in general and Durgaraja Puram village in particular only. Also the study includes different livestock
activities done by the sample respondents in the study area are analysed collectively not activity wise.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows that 45.56 percent livestock producers were falling in the age group of 31-45 years. 13.33
percent of respondents were of up to 30 years age implying reduced involvement of young cultivators in
agriculture and livestock keeping. A literacy level of sample respondents in the village wassomewhat
satisfactory as about 40 percent farmers were educated up to metric level and only 21.11 percent of the
sample respondents are educated above higher secondary. However, majority of them were old aged in
Durgaraja Puram village.
Out of total 90 sample respondents, majority of the farmers are small farmers having land holding in
range of 2.6 - 5 acres (Table 2). Overwhelming majority 34.44 of farmers were marginal farmers’ possessing
land less than 2.5 acres. Sound majority 74.45 of livestock producer was owner of their lands where they
were cultivating different crops like sugarcane, mango, as commercial crops and paddy, groundnut and
vegetables according to their domestic demands in the village. Today, with the increasing requirements,
desire of getting more income is escalating. No wonder, capital is a key towards development and uplift of
any domestic or commercial initiative. Among resource poor farmers' capital does matter a lot as they have
unbending dependency on farming.
Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the sample respondents
Demographics Literacy Levels
Sl. No
Age (Years) Frequency Education Frequency
1 Up to 30 12 (13.33) Primary 21 (23.33)
2 31-45 41 (45.56) Matric 36 (40.00)
Higher
3 46-60 20 (22.22) 14 (15.56)
Secondary(+2)
4 Above 60 17 (18.89) Above +2 19 (21.11)
Total 90 (100.00) Total 90 (100.00)
Values in the brackets indicate percent of the respondents
Source: Field survey
Table 2. Land particulars of the sample respondents
Land Possession Tenancy System
Sl. No
In Acres Frequency Type Frequency
1 Up to 2.5 31 (34.44) Owner 67 (74.45)
2 2.6 – 5 40 (44.45) Owner – cum -Tenant 13 (14.44)
3 5.1 – 10 13 (14.44) Tenant 7 (7.78)
4 Above 10 06 (6.67) Sub-Tenant 3 (3.33)
Total 90 (100.00) Total 90 (100.00)
Values in the brackets indicate percent of the respondents
Source: Field survey
26 Asian Journal For Poverty Studies 3(1): 24 - 29
Impact of livestock sector for rural poverty alleviation
Data depicted that all farmers were using livestock as income source completely or partially in Table 3.
About 34.44 percent farmers declared livestock farming as full fledge income source while 47.78 percent
farmers’ mutually described livestock as income source but partially. These farmers were also connected
with other businesses as well like crop farming and private business. Draught, transport and milk are the
most noteworthy income sources as resulting from livestock (Campbell et al., 2002). Ultimate purpose of
livestock rearing and livestock management practices is to earn income for the livelihood sustainability as
income generated help in improving livelihoods.
In study area domestic and commercial livestock farming was enabling farmers to earn more profit
through selling the byproducts like milk, ghee and dahi, animal manure and marketing of animals. Based on
the research work income from livestock is significant element of household income in Durgaraja Puram
village of Sri Rangaraja Puram Mandal in Chittoor district. In context of results, slightly less than half
respondents were adapting domestic as well as commercial livestock farming system. Moving forward,
about 30 percentrespondents were limited to the domestic livestock farming system. During informal
discussion and observation it was seen that poverty, limited resources and reduced adaptive capacity of the
farmers were major reasons to resist their farming to domestic level in the village. On the other hand, farmers
adapting commercial livestock farming system are large farmers with strong family background and risk
adverse adaptive capacity. Also the study told one more thing that is 13.33 percent of sample respondents
in the village are depend upon tenant livestock rearing system to safe their families from poverty conditions.
Reasons behind the situation,deficient physical and health conditions of the people,also the availability of
land is not suit for agriculture even the land is not suit for animal rearing also because the land is completely
drought land.
Informal discussions were held with respondents in Durgaraja Puram village to probe the realities
and it appeared that on averagefarmers were earning Rs. 5001-10000 for small farmers while for progressive
farmers earning probed was greater than Rs. 15000. Major mode of earning was milk selling and marketing
of animals and manure. Quantitative data collected shown that majority of farmers 38.89 percent were
earning monthly income up to Rs. 5000(Table 4). About 33.33 percent farmers were getting earning between Rs.
5001 – 10000 income range while 21.11 percentof the livestock keepers are in the range of Rs. 10001 –
15000 income group level and only 6.67 percent of the livestock farmers were able to earn greater than Rs.
15000 being progressive farmers in the village. It was observed through informal methods and observations
that the few small farmers were also included among the farmers earning Rs. 10001 – 15000 because of
implementation of decent farming practices.
Data also revealed that farmers were getting income from the livestock farming but of varied level
because of geographical location, adoption of recommended practices, number of animals and breeds of
animals (Table 4). For, example, milk selling could be anticipated as major income source in livestock
activity in study area. One of the livestock keeper in the village cited that “I am getting enough income for
my family uplift from milk marketing, sale of animals and manure”. Sample respondents in Durgaraja Puram
village also mentioned that Dhodla, Jersey and Sivasakthi dairies are the major firms to purchase milk from
their farms through their milk procurement agents, which was profitable but the milk agents follows some
malpractices which led to income loss of milk producers. Furthermore, 4.44 percent respondents were of
the view that livestock is not having enough impression in fulfillment of domestic needs. On contrary,
32.22 percent farmers recognized maximum contribution in domestic needs fulfillment (Table 5).
Table 3. Income source and nature of livestock farming of sample respondents
Income source Nature of livestock farming
Sl. No Frequency
Major Source Frequency purpose
1 Livestock farming 31 (34.44) Domestic 27 (30.00)
2 Livestock and crop farming 43 (47.78) Commercial 08 (8.89)
3 Livestock and services 11 (12.22) Domestic and commercial 43 (47.78)
4 Livestock, crops and services 05 (5.56) Tenant livestock farming 12 (13.33)
Total 90 (100.00) Total 90 (100.00)
Values in the brackets indicate percent of the respondents
Source: Field survey
Asian Journal For Poverty Studies 3(1): 24 - 29 27
Jalari and Devarajulu
Table 4. Monthly income statuses of sample respondents Table 5. Opinion of sample respondents in fulfilling
from livestock activities their domestic needs through income received
from livestock
Income level/Month Sl. No Response Frequency
Sl. No Frequency
In.Rs (Gross)
1 Up to 5000 35 (38.89) 1 To little extent 04 (4.44)
2 To some extent 12 (13.33)
2 5001 – 10000 30 (33.33)
3 To an average extent 21 (23.33)
3 10001 – 15000 19 (21.11)
4 To greater extent 29 (32.22)
4 Above 15000 06 (6.67) 5 To much extent 24 (26.68)
Total 90 (100.00) Total 90 (100.00)
Values in the brackets indicate percent of the respondents Values in the brackets indicate percent of the respondents
Source: Field survey Source: Field survey
Livestock farming is assumed as business providing income to sustain the routine life in Durgaraja
Puram village with the increasing needs, demand is increasing. To fulfill increasing demand multiple source are
essentials likewise, along with crop farming. Livestock farming is one of the feasible sources to increase
income levels of the poor in the village and it will help to overcome the poverty situations in rural areas.
Formal conversation exposed that livestock activity ensued to be the source of empowerment particularly
for the rural people in Sri Rangaraja Puram Mandal in Chittoor district (Table 6). Efforts at center and state
level are being made to enhance the empowerment of rural people especially women with the objective of
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depict the notion of empowering women to reduce poverty and
food insecurity. Especially empowerment is an issue in rural areas like Durgaraja Puram village in Sri
Rangaraja Puram Mandal where livestock is working as source of empowerment playing role in enhancing
financial status and reducing poverty. Livestock farming was strengthening family income by providing
capitals in the form of selling of products, by-products and living animals in Durgaraja Puram village of Sri
Rangaraja Puram mandal. However, inadequate market existence was perceived as difficulty during informal
debates with farmers in the village. Fulfillment of food necessities through livestock farming was 3rd top
priority of the farmers. Persisting food insecurity and under nutrition situation implies that livestock sector
needs more improvement to handle these challenges not only on micro level but also on macro level.
Table 6. Opinion of the respondents on the contribution of livestock keeping towards socio-economic aspects
Frequency
Sl. Socio-Economic
No Aspects Strongly Strongly
Disagree Neutral Agree Total
disagree agree
1 Living standard 6 (6.67) 12 (13.33) 19 (21.11) 29 (32.22) 24 (26.67) 90 (100)
Education of the
2 2 (2.22) 8 (8.90) 31 (34.44) 30 (33.33) 19 (21.11) 90 (100)
children
3 Empowerment 11 (12.22) 17 (18.89) 22 (24.44) 23 (25.56) 17 (18.89) 90 (100)
4 Family income 2 (2.22) 5 (5.56) 27 (30.00) 31 (34.44) 25 (27.78) 90 (100)
5 Health 8 (8.90) 5 (5.56) 25 (27.78) 33 (36.66) 19 (21.11) 90 (100)
6 Food requirements 4 (4.44) 6 (6.67) 19 (21.11) 26 (28.89) 35 (38.89) 90 (100)
Values in the brackets indicate percent of the respondents
Source: Field survey
28 Asian Journal For Poverty Studies 3(1): 24 - 29
Impact of livestock sector for rural poverty alleviation
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Conclusion
The study concluded that livestock activity is essential towards development of rural areas particularly the
areas like Durgaraja Puram village of Sri Rangaraja Puram Mandal in Chittoor district. Farmers in the
village possessed livestock as one of the leading income producing source after agriculture to support their
financial uplift and it is the best sector to overcome the losses from agriculture. Farmers in study area were
earning income in between Rs. 5000 and Rs. 15000 while in few cases income exceed Rs. 15000. This
income was being spent on education, health, nutrition food requirements and some on domestic equipment.
Livestock appeared to play role in improving empowerment and reducing poverty in the village. However,
socio-economic condition of farmers was found meager and need to be improved by enhancing their adaptive
capacities. Livestock deem to provide food and money, serving as savings for rainy days, ceremonial
utilization and empowerment to the whole family in the village. Livestock keepers in Durgaraja Puram village
should be given an opportunity to get training on livestock management, livestock marketing and acquisition of
relevant information from livestock facilitators. Livestock Extension services should be transformed to the
livestock keepers and organizers must be prepared with latest technologies for information spreading.
Suggestions
1. In study area most of the respondents are not higher educated, so it is necessary to give training
regarding to livestock activities and enhancing producer’s ability to act on their own behalf.
2. Improving access to shared resources among the villagers.
3. In study area there is no availability of medical services for animals, so establishing and enabling
proper animal health sector reforms.
4. In livestock sectorthere is a need to reducing local political intervention and increasing healthy
competition among livestock farmers in the study area as well as in district.
5. Improving feed and fodder, researching markets and breeding for improvement of livestock sector not
only in study area but also in Chittoor district.
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