Challenges and opportunities in smallholder livestock farming on the fringes of national parks in India

Abstract

This thesis explores the animal health challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers living on the fringes of National Parks in India. The thesis asks: what are the major challenges to livestock health and welfare; the reasons for these challenges; and the barriers to smallholders achieving change? Which routes provide effective communication and knowledge exchange with village livestock keepers in the study areas; are paravets effective at facilitating animal health knowledge exchange? This research aims to inform the development of sustainable improvements through collaborative knowledge exchange with local livestock keepers.

The methodological frameworks of participatory learning and action (PLA) and participatory epidemiology (PE) were used to co-learn with smallholder farmers through participatory farmer meetings and individual meetings, using the tools of: structured group discussions; ranking and piling exercises; semi-structured individual interviews; structured questionnaires; clinical examination of animals; direct observation; and village walks. The dual role of veterinary expert and neutral facilitator creates an ethical dilemma due to the imbalanced power dynamic with smallholder participants.

Continual reflexive practice is required alongside veterinary ethics and clinical judgement to ensure interactions which are effective, equitable, and empowering.

The research was conducted with a local partner organisation, The Corbett Foundation, an Indian conservation NGO. Study sites were identified around Kanha (KTR) and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh, and Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Assam.

Smallholders around Kanha reported their main challenges to be: ticks and tick- borne disease, foot and mouth disease (FMD), diarrhoea, haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), blackquarter (BQ), and plastic ingestion. Greatest concerns reported by smallholders at meetings around Kaziranga were: foot and mouth disease (FMD), haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), goat pox, Newcastle disease, chronic fasciolosis, diarrhoea, bloat and sarcoptic mange. Access to veterinary and vaccination services was found to be poor in both areas.

A shortage of fodder was identified as a barrier to production in both regions, particularly during the dry season, and in Kaziranga, during the seasonal flood.

The majority of participants reported limiting, delaying, or withholding colostrum from neonatal calves. Many livestock keepers were unaware of the crucial role colostrum plays in providing antibodies essential for calf health and survival. The primary reasons for restricting colostrum intake included differences in understanding of its benefits; and the common practice of using colostrum to prepare sweets for human consumption.

Investigation of an outbreak of goat pox demonstrated the development of highly susceptible populations within an endemic area, and that smallholders were willing to work collaboratively to agree on management changes at a village level.

Both these findings have implications for facilitation and interpretation of PLA/PE activities, and planning of vaccination programmes.

Reported vaccination rates of cattle and buffalo within the last year were 51%, 50%, and 31% in Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Kaziranga, respectively.

Participants stated that difficulty accessing vaccination services was their main barrier to livestock immunisation.

We found that veterinarian-led participatory meetings were highly effective in facilitating animal health knowledge exchange, resulting in measurable improvements. In contrast, distribution of printed material was ineffective. Results from follow up meetings around Kanha demonstrated that vets and paravets facilitated equally effective face-to-face knowledge exchange, with smallholders expressing a clear preference for in person interactions.

These findings highlight opportunities for improving colostrum management, vaccine adoption, and planned parasite control, to enhance animal health, welfare, and farm profitability. The research suggests that these improvements could be achieved through knowledge exchange activities between paravets and smallholders. There is a role for farmer education in advance of vaccination drives, however vaccine policy makers, service providers, and vaccinators are the key groups to be engaged with to improve vaccination accessibility. The findings presented in this thesis could provide valuable guidance toward achieving that goal.