An Economic Analysis of Paddy Fodder and Livestock Management in Tunga Bhadra Project (TBP) Command Area in Karnataka

Livestock plays an important role in the rural economy of the country. Livestock is a key source of supplementary income and livelihood, especially for small land holdings and landless rural poor households. India generates approximately 507.8 million tons of on-field crop residues, of which 43 per cent is rice and 23 per cent is wheat, remaining 16 per cent of crop residue is burnt on the field. In Thungabhadra project (TBP) command area 54 per cent were large farmers followed by medium farmers (21%). Four methods of residue management practices were identified in TBP command area out of which removal of straw and burning of stubble method were found to be the highest (42.45%) and the major one. The main reason behind burning of residues are low cost and labour scarcity. Total cost of cultivation of paddy per acre was found to be marginally lower in case of burning of straw and stubbles method when compared ( 37577) to incorporating straw and stubbles ( 38838) method in case of high livestock density area. Among the different residue management practices the livestock possession per respondent was found to be the highest in case of the removal of straw and burning of stubbles (1.69) followed by removal of straw and incorporation of stubbles (1.52). The least was found in case of burning of straw and stubbles (1.09). Major constraints found during paddy fodder management practices were lack of technical knowledge about residue management and non-availability of custom hire service, especially reaping binder in TBP command area.

Majority of farmers are practicing removal of straw and burning of stubble (42.45%) in TBP command area. In TBP command area 81 per cent of farmers harvest paddy crop using the machine (i.e. combine harvesters).

The major factors which influence the decision to burn paddy crop residue are the use of combine harvesters and the scarcity of labour for collection of residue. The sample farmers who have the high livestock possessions were practicing removal of straw and burning of stubbles method of paddy residue management practice and those having less livestock possessions were practicing burning of straw and stubbles method of residue management practices.