Animal health-cum-extension services through animal husbandry programme: Extension approaches and level of satisfaction

The present study has been carried out in Erode district of Tamil Nadu to study the extension approaches used and level of satisfaction of the Veterinary assistant surgeons directly involved in providing animal health cum extension services under the special livestock protection scheme. Data were collected through participatory observation and personal interview schedule. The study revealed that cent percent of the respondents were providing services of deworming, vaccination, treatment, and artificial insemination, and pregnancy diagnosis, technical guidance, organizing calf rallies and providing prizes for best-maintained animals regularly in the camps under the scheme. Veterinarians were distributing the leaflet to make farmers aware about the venue, date and activities to be covered under the camp. Local leaders (71.43%), personnel contact (57.14%) and tom-tom (85.71%) were the other means used by the veterinarians to make the villagers aware about animal health camp. About 71 and 29 per cent of the veterinarians sometimes used radio and newspaper, respectively for propaganda, publicity and dissemination of knowledge. Surprisingly, no one reported the use of television for publicizing the date and venue of the camp. About 57 per cent revealed high satisfaction for providing doorstep services at remote villages whereas, rest revealed satisfactory response. About 71 per cent of veterinarians expressed high satisfaction regarding reduction in frequency of disease occurrence and morbidity and mortality rate. Majority of respondents however were found to be dissatisfied for transport facility (85.71%), budget allotment (57.14%) and supply of inputs and infrastructure availability (57.14%) for providing the animal health and extension services in the rural areas.