Perception of livestock-rearers about environmental impact of the flood in Odisha, India

Floods results in unavailability of feed and shelter, affecting livestock in stressed condition and ultimately suppressing their immunity, making them susceptible to infectious diseases. Ex-post facto research Design has been followed for the present study. A total of 120 livestock-rearers from two flood-prone districts of Odisha were interviewed and perceived environmental impact to flood index was followed for the present study. Loss of cropland due to sand casting was the most severe environmental impact, as perceived by the respondents of the overall study area. The study also established that 37.50 per cent of the respondents of overall study area were having a higher level of perceived environmental impact and the severity of environmental impact increased with the increase in the degree of flood-proneness. The present study will help State as well as Central Governments to formulate location-specific contingency plan to cope up with impact of flood.