A socio-economic study on Red Chittagong Cattle (RCC) farmers in selected upazilas of Chittagong district

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the existing socio-economic status and to know the present condition of RCC population, their management system, prevalence of diseases and income from RCC and other sources. Results showed that the RCC farmers have an average landholding of 0.89±0.09 and it varied from 0.22±0.01 acres for landless to 13.63±4.63 acres for large farms. The distribution of land was found uneven among farm categories. The average size of family members was 4.98±0.11 per farm and. 67.34% of them were in the active age group of 18-57 years. The main occupation of the community farmers were agriculture (51.96%) followed by service (21.75%) and business (19.94%). On average the highest (33.55%) of family literacy prevailed in primary education. The average RCC herd size per farm was 1.70±0.04 and varied from 1.50±0.50 in large to l.78±0.06 in landless farms and no relationship (r² = 0) was found with landholdings. For raising RCC the participation women was (36.00%) and it was found the highest (42.52%) in landless farms. Only 7.09% of the farmers were found cultivating fodder and of the farmers 77.78% cultivated napier and 22.22% german grass. The most prevalent diseases reported by the farmers were Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) (26.20%) and worm (21.13%). The average mortality of RCC was observed 2.12%. The age group proportional mortality showed that mortality was the highest for calf (55.56%), followed by growing animals (22.22%) and adult (22.22%) and death of animals was highest (55.56%) in rainy season. Only 29.44% of farmers reported to vaccinate their cattle against some viral and bacterial diseases and it was highest against FMD (53.43%) followed by BQ (28.92%) and Anthrax (17.65%). Annual average gross income per farm from different sources was Tk 128016 and it varied from Tk 80618 to Tk 847500 for different farm categories. Average annual income from RCC source was calculated to be Tk 16412 and it varied from Tk 2500 for large to Tk. 28598 for small farms.

Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 19(1-2): 123-136, Jan-Dec 2012