The upper Pravara basin in the Akole tahsil of the Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra

Transcription

1 Methodology: Study Area: The upper Pravara basin in the Akole tahsil of the Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra (India) (figure 1) is selected for proposed study of dairy activity. The offshoots i.e. Kulangarh-Navaricha dongar-kalsubai (1646m) at north and Sipnur-Ratangarh (1237m) at south extended from west to east from the Mountain Sahyadri (Western Ghats) are borders of the region. The slopes are very steep at top of the ridges has shallow soils whereas comparatively deep soils distributed at foot hill zones. The water holding capacity of the soils are varied according to slopes. The deep soils sustain the wetness for long time as compare to the shallow. They are supplying fodder to the domestic animal in the region. Deep soils are covered by medium to dense deciduous, evergreen monsoon forests and grasses at places. The Pravara is major Non-perennial River flowing west to east and flooding only in rainy season (June to September). The major reservoir (Wilson dam) located at the central part of the study area and Ghatghar dam at west, Nilvande dam at centre and small dams on small tributaries in north part. The river sometimes has water in down stream of the dam in the period of rotations given to the agriculture. There are some percolation tanks and lifted water supply for agriculture also observed at very meagre level. Therefore, study area has perennial water supply for dairy farming near to river and dams. The rice is major crop in the region has potentials of fodder supply in the dry season. The tribal population is major group living the region engaged in agriculture and animal rearing. The Dangi cow, local breed is sustained in the contrasted condition i.e. heavy rainfall followed by dry season. They are rearing the cows as well as buffaloes for milk and bull productions for self sustenance. The small amount of milk from some families is

2 supplying to promoter for processing and earning some amount for domestic purposes. The standard of living is poor and need to be improved in near future. Therefore, the present study is proposed to find the nature, problems and suggest model for improvement in the sector. Figure 1. The study area: Upper Pravara Basin

3 Database: Types of Data Topograpic maps Socio- Economic data Sources and Methods Survey of India Government offices Use and Application To study the physiographic settings, drainage, land use, etc. to estimate the resources for dairy practices 1. To study the land use, cropping pattern, agronomy. 2. To economic status of population. 3. To population distributions, compassions, education, etc. 4. To study the animal husbandry Remote sensing data Dairy activity primary information Online sources and NRSC, Hyderabad Field workcirculating questionnaires, interviews and group discussions 1. To estimate available fodder in the study area. 2. To study the spatial distribution and village wise availability in the region. 1. To estimate the milk production and expenditure. 2. To study the milk processing in the study area. 3. To study the marketing milk and processed products. 4. To study the additional benefits from dairy activities.

4 Selection of the sample villages and families About 10% of villages (48) in the study area would be selected using stratified random sampling methods. The population size, location, land use pattern, etc. would be taken into consideration for selection of villages for the study. Heads of the 10% families from each selected village would be interviewed for collection of primary information regarding socio-economic status and dairy activity. The social, economical and cultural aspects of the families would be considered in selection process of families for the study. The questionnaires would be circulated to head of the families to collect the information regarding dairy farming e. g. main household, family members, laborers, milk collectors, milk processors, marketing, etc. The farmers, milk collectors and processers would be interviewed separately using questionnaires prepared for particular element of the dairy activity. The group discussions would be arranged in sampled villages to get the information regarding nature, problems and expected solutions of dairy activity in the study area. Data Analyses Descriptive and analytical statistical techniques would be used for proposed study. The information collected from the primary and secondary sources would be loaded and stored in spreadsheets of Microsoft Excel and SPSS (version 10) software for summarization, analysis, interpretation and presentation. The GIS software would be used for spatial analyses of conventional and remote sensing data. The statistical techniques like mean, median, correlation, regression, etc. graphical and mapping technique would be used in this study.

5 1. Physiographic analyses: The physiographic elements influencing the dairy activities would be analyzed to understand the impact of geographic variations of dairy activity. The maps i.e. contour, slope, drainage, soils would be prepared using topomaps in GIS. The climate data i.e. rainfall would be plotted on the map of study area, to understand the geographic variation and dairy activities. 2. Socio-economic analyses: The spatial and temporal distribution of population, literacy, workforce, amenities and traditions, etc. would be taken into account to understand the social background of society in the region. The agriculture, cropping pattern, livestock, dairy farming, marketing, etc. parameters would be analyzed to set economical base for model. The statistical techniques like central tendencies, standard deviations, correlation would be used for the analyses. 3. Estimations fodder: The satellite techniques with conventional information would be used for estimations of fodders i.e. grass and natural vegetations. The observations recorded randomly selected pixels would be combined with satellite information to estimate the net natural green matter. The conventionally recorded information would be loaded in GIS attached files for the analyses.

6 4. Family setup of milk producers: The information gathered in primary survey conducted in the study areas would be loaded, analyzed, presented in the data base software. The average values for selected villages would be used for estimations of information at a glance for study area using regression techniques. The information regarding milk production would be collected from producing families and processing with marketing from milk collectors and processers. The data regarding family size, education, land holding size would be analyzed to set family background of dairy farmers. 5. Nature of dairy activity: The information regarding livestock, type of animals, milking animals, lactation period, milking period, milk production, veterinary facility, animal sheds, fodder availability, water sources, marketing practices, processing, etc. would be analyzed using simple statistical techniques and loaded in GIS software for spatial analyses. The available fodder and milk production will be studied to suggest the remedies for processing, transportation, marketing, etc. 6. Cost-benefit analysis dairy activity: Dairy farming is perennial source of income to tribal people in the region. However, standard of living in the region is very poor. Therefore, the cost-benefit analysis would be processed to understand the profitability of the sector. The expenditure and income would be estimated based on information collected in primary survey. It would be tabulated and estimated in computer based systems.

7 7. Remedial action plan: The model for sustainable development of dairy farming would be designed based on information generated in analyses regarding yearly green fodder, milk production, marketing facilities and milk processing. The following factors would be taken into account in the process of model formation: 1. Geographic feasibility 2. Socio-economic setup 3. Economic feasibility 4. Farmers willingness