Introduction

The Small animal husbandry plays a key role in sustainable livelihood and income generation of the rural pro-poor stakeholders in India. The goat as farm animals has widest ecological range and most reliable livelihood resources of poor people since their domestication during Neolithic period of about 10 million years ago. Goat farming has tremendous potential for income and employment generation, especially in rural areas (Singh et al., 2015). This small ruminant plays a significant role in providing self-employment through supplementary income to millions of resource poor farmers and acts as a cushion in distress situations like draught, famine etc. India possesses an enormous goat population of 124.5 million i.e. 18% of the World population. (Anonymous, 2015). Goats and their products accounted for about 8.5% of value of livestock output (at current prices) in 2010-11. The 19th livestock census revealed that, India accounts 135.17 million of goat population, among them rural area contributes 129.08 million goats. Goat population accounts for 22.06% of total livestock population in India (19^th Livestock census, Dept. of A.H. & Dairying, Govt. of India).  Goat rearing has distinct economic and managerial advantages over other livestock species, because of its less initial investment, low input requirement, higher reproductive rate, early sexual maturity, and ease in marketing (Kumar et al., 2015). To promote goat husbandry, women are key stake holder for goat rearing in back yard system apart from their household work. In India, about 70% of women work forces were engaged in livestock farming and women were key stakeholder for goat rearing in backyard system apart from their household works. This will provide employment and empowerment opportunities to females; two-third of female workforce in rural India is engaged in livestock rearing (Kumar and Singh, 2008).As per Census 2011, out of total female main workers, 55% were agricultural labourers and 24% were cultivators. Goat Husbandry will provide employment and empowerment opportunities to females as two-third of female workforce in rural India is engaged in livestock rearing (Kumar, 2004). Improvement of livelihood of this rural working force (women) through extensive capacity building including skill up gradation on various improved animal Husbandry practices is an important tool. Senthilkumar et al. (2014) concluded that training had positive impact to the farmers’ knowledge level, perception and performance. Adoption is a decision to make full use of an innovation as the best course of action available (Rogers, 1961). This is the acceptance and continued use of improved practices and helps in adoption of any improved or new technology or practices many times. The five aspirational districts namely-Birbhum, Nadia, Malda, South Dinajpur and Murshidabad as identified by the NITI Ayog, Govt. of India in the state of West Bengal have been selected for the study considering its poverty, poor health, educational status and socio-economic characteristics etc. Considering this development scenario, a suitable plan needs to be promoted for better livelihood among the women folk engaged in goat farming in various aspirational districts of West Bengal with a linkage of available science and technology. Keeping this idea in mind, an attempt has been made to study on the adoption level of Women Goat farmers in various aspirational district of West Bengal state.

Materials and Methods

The present research work was conducted in purposively selected 05 numbers of aspirational districts, of the state West Bengal as identified by the NITI Aayog, Govt. of India. The five (05) aspirational districts of NITI Ayog i.e. Nadia, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Malda and Dakshin Dinajpur was selected purposively considering its poverty, poor health, educational status and socio-economic characteristics in the state of West Bengal. Moreover the districts have relatively high potential for conducting research on ‘Study on adoption level of farm women on Goat farming in different aspirational districts of West Bengal’’as in these district Farm women has immense potential in rural Goat farming practice. A complete list of women Goat farmers of each selected blocks was prepared from the official record of district Animal resource development Dept. & other sources. From, the list so prepared, category wise, women farm families rearing Goat were identified, which formed the target population for the study. A sample of 50 number of women goat farmers were randomly selected as respondents from each one block of each one district of total five aspirational districts namely–Nadia (LN-23.471^oN and LT-88.556^oE), Murshidabad (LN-24.175^oN and LT-88.280^oE), Birbhum (LN-23.840^oN and LT-887.619^oE), Malda (LN-25.010^oN and LT-88.141^oE) and Dakshin Dinajpur (LN-25.371^oN and LT-88.556^oE) districts. In this way, total sample size was 250 nos. for the present research study. Data were collected through personal interview using a specially prepared pre tested structured interview schedule. In the present study, it is intended to study the general, socio-economic, communication, administrative, and socio-psychological profiles of the respondents along with Adoption Index in selected improved Goat farming practices. The independent variables (17) have been selected on their theoretical relationship with the dependent variable viz. Adoption Index in selected improved Goat farming practices. The dependent variable was measured by using the available scales of Dasgupta (1968) respectively for the present study. All the selected variables were measured either by test or established scale or by developing schedule. This has further scope of investigation and elaboration in near future. The data were collected with the help of pre-tested structured interview schedule by the research himself and the same were compiled, tabulated and analyzed statistically through the tools as-Mean±SE, Chi-square, ANOVA and Spearman correlation coefficient analysis for better interpretation of the findings in the study.

Results and Discussion

The Present study was pursued among the 250 numbers of sample women goat farmers of aspirational districts as identified by the NITI-Ayog of West Bengal (Birbhum, Nadia, Malda Dakshin Dinajpur, Murshidabad) to assess their adoption level in scientific goat farming practices for making a suitable plan through an ideal intervention to improve the livelihood of the stakeholders in the functional area of study. The analytical studies with supportive references are depicted as follows.

The adoption index (Mean±SEM) generated through standard practice among the farm women in the aspirational districts of West Bengal in relation to improved farm practices of goat husbandry like-vaccination against contagious diseases, deworming for parasitic disease, cultivation of green fodder, Feeding of green fodder, feeding of concentrate mixture, feeding of colostrum to new born kid, feeding of urea  and molasses treated straw, castration by bradizzo castrator, value addition of milk and meat as per Dasgupta (1968) has been represented in the Table 1.

Table 1: Adoption Index of the Farm women in the aspirational district of West Bengal

Table 1: Continue...

It had been appeared that, adoption index among the farm women of South Dinajpur district (7.01±0.64) was significantly higher than other four districts viz- Birbhum (5.01±0.72), Malda (5.20±0.67), Nadia (5.57±0.68) and Murshidabad (6.07±0.68) respectively. The result indicated that the farm women of south Dinajpur district were more adapted to improved goat husbandry practices. Similarly, the women farmer of joint family had significantly (p<0.01) higher adoption index (7.26±0.49) in comparison to those of nuclear family (5.22±0.47). It was obvious that, the women farmer belonging to joint family were more acquainted with animal husbandry practices particularly goat rearing. The adoption of improved technology was thus preferred by this farmer. In case of, land holding pattern the adoption of improved technology was thus preferred by this farmer. In case of land holding pattern, the adoption index of women goat farmer having land holding above 2 hector was significantly (p<0.05) higher (7.63±1.33) than other three groups viz landless (5.32±0.62), marginal (5.54±0.58) and small farmer (5.92±0.58). The farmers having land particularly agriculture land more than 2 hector were fond of farm animal rearing as a source alternative family source of income. The improved technology for scientific goat rearing was essential to improve their economic gain and that’s why adoption index was comparatively higher. The other factor like- age, religion, occupation, education, caste, marital status, family size and house type had no significant effect on adoption index of farm women in functional area of the study. The adoption level was a key factor to assess how much the improved technology was essential among these farm women. The adoption level was described in three groups viz low, medium and high and the value was depicted in Table. It had been observed that, majority of farm women of Birbhum district (62%) were having higher % age of low adoption level in comparison to other four districts. Widows (50%), person engaged in business (62.5%) illiterate (64%) were also having higher frequency of low level adoption. The farm women of general caste were having low level of adoption in relation to other caste.

The Chi-square test in Table 2 found that, the difference in value in adoption level of these farm women based on different category had a highly significant effect (p<0.01).

Table 2: Adoption Level of the farm women in the aspirational districts of West Bengal

The adoption of technology by mainly small and marginal farmers in the under developed aspirational districts of West Bengal was the prime focus of the present study The result had showed low level of adoption among this farm women which indicated their lacking in application of improved husbandry practices in goat farming. The finding was about to be similar with the observation made by Jeelani et al. (2015) studies in Jammu districts of Jammu & Kashmir. Gunaseelan et al. (2018) had also different observation with the present findings as they had conducted their studies in commercial goat farmer in Tamil Nadu. The present study conducted mainly with small and marginal farmers in the aspirational districts of West Bengal. Kumar et al. (2015) had also found similar type of observation in Bihar. The result was disagreed with the findings of Podikunju et al. (2002)as they had made their studies among the tribal women, who were less interested in adoption of improved technology in goat farming during this period. As the day progress, these women are being advanced with extensive activities of the extension functionaries engaged in animal husbandry practices.

The Spearman correlation co-efficient of each of the personal and socio-economic characteristics with adoption level of respondent have been furnished in Table 3.

Table 3: Spearman correlation of adoption index of women goat owners of aspirational districts of W.B.

It was revealed that, overall in five districts among- 11 independent variables, 07 variables viz., religions, occupation, education, family type, house type and land holding showed significant (p<0.01) relationship, whereas- caste showed significant relationship at 0.05 level of probability with the adoption level of women goat farmer in five aspirational districts in West Bengal. The remaining   six variables viz., district, age, marital status did not establish any significant relationship with adoption level of women goat farmer in five aspirational districts in West Bengal. It was interestingly shown that, the family size had a significantly (p<0.01) negative correlation with adoption index which indicated that, the women farmer of joint family were having more adoption index than nuclear family. Marital status had a negative correlation with adoption index but it was not statistically significant. Married women were more acquainted with improved technology of goat husbandry. The present result was almost in the tune with the findings of Ghosh et al. (2004),Roy and Tiwari (2017) and Mausami et al. (2017) who had also reported that among socio-economic variables, age and education of the respondents were significantly correlated with adoption of improved animal husbandry practices, though they had done their work in different area of study.

The following previous observations will support the present study to get better realization. Pawar (1979) had stated positive correlation in adoption level with attitude towards dairy farming. Swami et al.(1978)had made positive relation with utilization of mass media. Singh (1982) reported that age had no significant relationship with adoption of improved goat husbandry innovations. Gupta (1978) found no significant impact of income with the adoption of improved A.H. technology. Sayeedi (1983) and Dana et al. (1998) found significant relation of family educational status with adoption of dairy innovations. Tripathi and Kunzru (1992), Sharma (1994), also worked on various independent variables relating to relationship with the adoption of different A. H.  Practices. Teklewold et al. (2006) and Goswami (2007). also reported different observations on adoption behaviour related to different variables which supported the present findings. Daipuria(2001) reported that age, education, house type, social participation, risk orientation, mass media, marketing orientation, knowledge etc. were significantly associated with the adoption of goat husbandry practices.    

The study in Table 4 on Adoption Level of different Technology among the Women  Goat farmers of Aspirational districts of Niti-Ayog in West Bengal revealed that, in South Dinajpur district, vaccination against contagious diseases (82%),  Deworming for parasitic control (72%), Cultivation of green fodder (50%), Feeding of concentrate mixture (56%), Feeding of colostrum to new born kid (34%), Feeding of urea  and molasses treated straw (28%), Castration by bradizzo castrator (36%),  Value addition of milk and meat (44%) had highest adoption level followed by other four districts as- Murshidabad, Nadia, Malda and Birbhum district respectively. But, in Murshidabad district, feeding of green fodder (42%) had highest adoption level followed by other four districts in the functional area. The result was in agreement with the findings of Roy and Tiwari(2017) particularly in West Bengal because both the studies were almost contemporary. Hence, in future days a comprehensive farmer training and demonstration programme need to be conducted in this lacking area for livelihood improvement of women goat farmers in the functional area of the state West Bengal.

Table 4: Adoption level of different technology among the women goat farmers of aspirational districts of Niti-Ayog in West Bengal, India

Conclusion

The Study revealed low adoption level among farm women, which indicated their lacking in improved goat husbandry practices. The joint family married women were more acquainted and adopted with improved goat husbandry. The South Dinajpur district had highest adoption level than other aspirational districts in the state. Hence, a comprehensive HRD programme should be conducted for better livelihood generation. Adoption index among the farm women need to be assessed for sustainable livelihood driven work plan as promising endeavor in future.

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