1Associate Professor (Farm Management), School of Social Sciences, College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Barapani-7931 03, Meghalaya
2Associate Professor (Communication), School of Social Sciences, College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Barapani-7931 03, Meghalaya
3Asstt. Prof. (Evonomics), School of Social Sciences, College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Barapani-7931 03, Meghalaya
4Asstt. Prof. (HRD), School of Social Sciences, College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Barapani-7931 03, Meghalaya
5Asstt. Prof. (Agricultural Engineering), School of Social Sciences, College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural University, Barapani-7931 03, Meghalaya
6Senior Scientist (Gender Specialist), Division of Social Sciences, IRRI, Philippines and
College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agriculture University, Barapani, Meghalaya -793 103
Online published on 6 December, 2013.
The impact of climate change on livestock is a matter of serious as majority of livestock in India are in the hands of the resource poor. The impact of variations and rise in temperature on Indian livestock greatly affects its functions and milk production. Unprecedented drought like situation adversely affected the livestock gased livelihood of whole north eastern hill region of India. In this background the present study was conducted in South and West Garo Hills of Meghalaya to assess the impact of climate change on livelihood of animal husbandry. In conclusion, Extreme climate variability (ECV) affects both the gender but with different consequcnes according to their roles and responsibilities. Both men and women were of same opinion that there is a change in weather in the last 20 years but-the response slightly differs between men and women. Around 25 to 100 percent decrease of big and small animal owned by households was reported by both the gender. Overall more than 80% of households reported diseases and mortality in livestock due to drought. The role of wives increases in decision making on selling of livestock during stress period. The time spent on fodder collection also increased during stress period comparative to normal period due to less access of fodder. New livestock breeds, livestock management and land management technique were the mitigating straytegies. Further, study suggest to initiate the new livestock management techniques and high yielding breeds of small and big animal to uplift the livelihood of the people of the study area.
