Participatory constraint analysis of rearing Niang Megha Pigs by the tribal farmers of Meghalaya

Abstract

The study was undertaken in two purposively selected districts of Meghalaya viz. East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya and targeted for Participatory constraint analysis of rearing Niang Megha Pigs by the tribal farmers. A list of the most common constraints was prepared initially based on the responses through participatory method with 10 Key Informants (KI) and 120 randomly selected respondents, 60 each from the two districts. Thereafter the KI and Respondents were asked to rank the constraints individually. Data was collected during the month of February 2015 to April 2016. Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) technique was used to quantify the data so collected by Preferential Ranking Technique. The RBQ values indicating the severity of constraints were calculated separately for both KI and the respondents in both the districts. Spearman’s rank correlation co-efficient were calculated between the ranks assigned by KI and respondents in both the districts which was found to be highly significant, with R=0.70 and R=0.95 in West Khasi Hills and East Khasi Hills districts, signifying a close association between the KI and the respondents in these districts, with regard to their attitude towards the constraints perceived by them. Based on the perceived ranking by the tribal farmers and calculated mean RBQ values, rank of each of the 14 constraints was ascertained. Out of these, high cost of feed was adjudged as the major constraints, with RBQ values of 96.8 and 95.0 in West Khasi Hills and East Khasi Hills districts, followed by other constraints like lack of adequate feed, lack of Breeding boar and no access to credit facilities.