Sustainability of scientific piggery venture as a livelihood security option among the tribal farmers of Jorhat district, Assam, India

Pig rearing occupies an important place among the tribal people and have the potential for upliftment of the socio economic status of the rural society. In this study two blocks of Jorhat district, Assam, India were selected namely Dhekargarah and Ujani Majuli Development Block with tribal population of 95 and 98 per cent, respectively where piggery being the predominant livestock activity. From two development block 5 villages were selected and from each village 10 farm families were included in this study. In every selected village, one farm family was as nucleus pig breeder farmer and the rest nine as breeder cum fattener farmers. Each farm family was supported for establishment of semi-scientific pigsty, improved pig germplasm and feed and medicine. The breeder pig farmers were provided 10 females and 2 male pure breed Hampshire piglets. The fattener farmers were provided 4 females and 1 male pure breed Hampshire piglets. One year onward beside technical support no inputs support was provided. From this study it was found that, scientific/semi-scientific pig farming, better breeds accompanied with proper feed and health management was the key to higher profit than traditional method of rearing. From one year onward when no input was provided, since the major cost was feed so, for sustainability of the farm the farmers replaced three forth portion of commercial feed with various cheap, seasonal, nutritional and locally available ingredients. It was recorded that, the farmers could make more profit than that of the previous year feeding with commercial feed. Such intervention can be a role model and can adopt as a tool for piggery development, improving livelihood and ensuring security.