Pig-based production system contributing towards the sustainable livelihood of tribes of Jharkhand

Pig farming provides subsistence for millions of small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. The present study was conducted in two randomly selected districts of Jharkhand in 2013–14. The study assessed the extent of contribution of pig-based production system towards the sustainable livelihood of the tribes of Govindpur and Ormanjhi blocks of Dhanbad and Ranchi districts. The data were collected from 120 randomly selected households and the study was conducted through personal interviews of the selected respondents, personal observations and participatory rural appraisal techniques viz transect walk, social mapping, key informant interview, focus group discussions etc. The results indicated that the livelihood of tribal communities in the area had traditionally been dominated by the pig-based production system-cattle + goat + pig (C + G + P). The pig-based production system prevalent in the area was found to be substantially contributing to the sustainable livelihood of the respondents and was the integral part of day to day livelihood activities, nutritional security and traditional lifestyle of the tribal people in the area.