Constraints and opportunities for Donkey owners in Tamil Nadu

The trend of the donkey population in Tamil Nadu portrayed a drastic decline, urging the scientists to explore the reasons behind the decline. Hence, a research study was conducted to analyze the challenges and opportunities of donkey rearing in Tamil Nadu. The study was carried out in eight districts of Tamil Nadu which were selected purposively based on the donkey population. The data were elicited from totally 160 respondents through focus group discussion and interview method. Theft of donkeys, decreased demand for donkeys due to modernization, shrinkage of common grazing land, disease management and lack of government support to conserve donkeys were enlisted as the major constraints by the donkey owners in Tamil Nadu. As an intervention, microchips were implanted in donkeys to help the donkey owners in identifying the donkeys during dispute. As the donkeys were still relied on transporting goods and consumables in hilly terrain, the draught performance of the donkeys needs to be explored in tropical climates. Majority of the donkey owners in Tamil Nadu are involved in marketing the donkey milk due to its medicinal properties. Hence, assured market linkage and policy interventions were the need of the hour to help the donkey owners as well as to ensure the welfare of donkeys in Tamil Nadu.