Scientific method of pig rearing under ARYA at Titaguri village under Kokrajhar district (BTAD)

Introduction:
Livestock rearing plays and important role in the tribal economy of Kokrajhar district as bulk and preferential diet for tribal people is an animal origin protein i.e. pork,chicken, egg and fish etc. Almost every tribal household of the district rear at least one or two pigs in backyard but still a gap exist between demand and availability of pork in the market. The main reason in the insufficiency for production is rearing of mostly indigenous pig which has less productivity, lack of knowledge about scientific pig farming, feeding and breeding management of pig. The Titaguri is one of the village of Kokrajhar districts having 211 household with population of 1807 (2011 census) which is situated just 5 KM away from BTC secretariat of Kokrajhar district.Mr. Rahul Narzary, an enthusiastic youth of age 34 from Titaguri,Kokrajhar was enrolled under the ARYA project and provided skill training on scientific piggery farming. Initially he started his farm with 11 numbers of indigenous pigs in tethering system. With continuous monitoring and supervision from KVK, Kokrajhar he successfully established one piggery unit with initial support of 10no’s of improved verities piglet, pig sty, feed, vaccine and medicine. With this capital support from the project and strong self-determination towards self-employment he has produced more than 120 piglets per annum from breeding sow raised in his farm. Now he is expanding his pig farm with total numbers of 60 sow and boar in his breeding unit. Due to huge market opportunity for piglet & pork in tribal people dominated Kokrajhar district, he sale piglet and pork in farm gate and daily market of Kokrajhar town at Rs.4000/- per piglet and Rs.300/- per kg pork. The consumers highly accepted his quality piglets and pork in Kokrajhar town that contributed total income of Rs 35000-40000/months by selling piglet and pork only. Further, with existing piggery unit he started different poultry enterprise viz., Duckery, turkey and dual purpose poultry farming. He also started a feed mill in his neighbor village. With established piggery and poultry enterprise currently he is earning Rs 450000-500000 annually. Seeing his success in pig farming many unemployed youth are motivated and came forward for multiplication of similar livestock and poultry enterprise nearby the area. Mr. Narzary also been awarded best piggery farmer in “National livestock & Poultry Show” organized by Dept. of AH & Veterinary, Assam for the year 2019 and awarded the best piggery farmer in the Kokrajhar district for the year 2020-21 on republic day by district administration.

Interventions
1. Before initiation of project, imparted knowledge and skill training on scientific pig farming
2. Constructed concrete pigsty for each group of youth to rear pigs
3. Provided critical input i.e. Quality piglet,feed, medicine and supplements.
4. Periodical deworming and vaccination for FMD, swine fever and suggestion for disease management and prevention
5. Market link up with different stakeholders
Output of the enterprise:
1. Quality piglet production as a profitable income generating venture.
2. Trained rural youth
3. Technology accepted and adopted
4. Additional income generated
5. Linkage with different line department
6. Self-employment

Perception of others in the village: Positive attitude develops towards pig breeding and fattening as lucrative enterprise in tribal dominated Kokrajhar district
Conclusion:
Scientific pig breeding as an enterprise which is profitable as compare to their traditional method of rearing with less piglet mortality and diseases occurrence, reduction cost with a high economic return. The success of the youth has inspired and created interest among the local youth for taking up piggery as an entrepreneurial venture.

Scientific method of Eri rearing

Introduction:
Sericulture plays an important role in the rural economy of the North Eastern Region (NER) of India and is called the Queen of Textiles. It has always been the choice of fabric of Royalty and Nobility. Mulberry and eri silk worm are reared indoor while tasar and muga are reared outdoor. Among these commercially exploited silkworms viz mulberry, muga and tassar; eri silkworms is completely domesticated multi-voltine, poly-phagus species under non mulberry sector which is reared throughout the year.
Eri silk culture is indigenous to the North-Eastern region of India and Kokrajhar district was not an exceptional. It comes from the silkworm Philosomiaricini that feeds mostly on the leaves of the castor plant, Ricinus communis. The unique thing in Eri silk is the type of cocoon as its fiber is not reeled.Further, the woolly cotton like behaviour white silk is often referred to as the Ahinsa silk or the fabric of peace as the process does not involve the killing of the silk worm. Moths leave the cocoon as soon as it is ready to be spun. The cocoon is open-ended and the moth emerges by its own or worm is extracted. The matured worm is also an exotic food in most tribal people of the district and referred as a food of delicacy among Bodo community of the region.
Rearing of eri silk worm is almost a prerogative of tribal people of the district and inherited from one generation to other as a tradition. It was believed that ericulture is a poor’s man job and a leisure time activity and is a secondary source of income for clothing and food. The rearing of eri silk worm through traditional method was reported in decreasing trend by many authors and thus it was also noted that rural youth of the district are found migrated to other state in search of income avenues as eri silk rearing for livelihood strategy is unsure.The contributing factors of decreasing trend in eri silk rearing are due to lack of awareness of scientific method of rearing, availability and knowledge of secondary and tertiary food plants, lack of knowledge on intercropping of agricultural crop with sericulture crops, post cocoon technologies, poor management of infected larvae and mortality and morbidity of eri pupae in different temperature, relative humidity and environmental factors.Hence, scientific intervention of ericulture over traditional method was found utmost important to save this old age tradition by attracting rural youth towards ericulture.
Interventions
o Scientific method of eri rearing leads to more cocoon production than traditional method of cocoon rearing.
o Availability of eri food plant leads to round the year cocoon production and hence castor, kesseru and tapioca plantation is encouraged in farmer’s field by providing seedlings and seeds.
o Space is well utilized in scientific method of eri rearing.
o In scientific method of eri rearing eri larvae are less susceptible to disease, mortality and morbidity.
o Tensile strength of yarn is increased if primary or secondary food plant as castor or kesseru respectively followed by tapioca is provided as feed to larvae.
o Yarn making through use of Takli( hand Spinning machine) is time consuming over motorized solar operated 3 in 1 spinning machine.
Output of the enterprise: Farm income
• Total income from sale of cocoon annually is Rs 12,750 X 5 times in a year = Rs.63,750/
• Sale of eri pupae annually is Rs. 80 kg 5times = 400kg X @ 250/- per Kg = Rs.1,00,000/-
• Sale of diversified hand woven products Annually is Rs. 4000/- per shawl X 5 no.s= 20,000/-.
• The products are collected by local aggregators or sale in local market without any brand name.
o Gross income : Rs. 1,87,000/-
o Net income : Rs. 1,63,000/-
Benefit to farmers:
The benefit to the farmers is as follows:

• Total income from sale of cocoon annually is Rs 12,750 X 5 times in a year = Rs.63,750/-
• Sale of eri pupae annually is Rs. 80 kg 5times = 400kg X @ 250/- per Kg = Rs.1,00,000/-
• Sale of diversified hand woven products Annually is Rs. 4000/- per shawl X 5 no.s= 20,000/-.
• The products are collected by local aggregators or sale in local market without any brand name.
o in terms of increase in income :Rs. 1,83,000/-
o in terms of reduction of cost : Rs.45,000/- (Purchasing of food plant and eri egg is reduced)
o in terms of market linkages established :
o Eri cocoon are collected by local aggregators or sale directly to Department of sericulture, Gossaigaon/Kokrajhar for yarn production.
o Pupae are sold in local market as it is the exotic food among Bodo community.

Perception of others in the village:
o Eri culture is a profitable business.
o Rearers don’t have to run to sale there goods as goods are sale at their door step.
o Eri cocoon are non perishable and hence can be stored in any jute bag or bamboo tray.
o Eri larvae which is a proteinous food and are in high demand in local market.
o Eri cocoon can be treated with chemical and thus yarn can be easily spun in solar operated spinning machine where electricity is a main constrain in remote village areas.

Conclusion:
Rearing of eri silk worm is a traditional method of rearing. Scientific intervention in this field leads to more production without compromising cocoon quality and quantity. Product diversification and value addition of hand-woven fabric made out of eri yarn with traditional Bodo design will attract more community and thus cater more market.