Principles and Techniques of Veterinary and AH Extension

INFORMATION NEEDS OF LIVESTOCK FARMERS 

• Due to changing face of livestock production, farmers have to make a number of complex decisions and they need timely information and the most relevant of them are as follows:
  • What technological options could be used profitably in his/her situation keeping in view the potential resource constraints in terms of land, capital, labour and knowledge?
  • How to manage the various technologies? (eg: how to make optimal use of new inputs in his farm?)
  • How and when to change his farming system? (eg diversifying from crop production to mixed farming or vegetable or animal production)
  • For which type ofproducts, is there a good demand in the market?
  • What quality specifications / standards he should achieve to get good value for his produce and how to achieve?
  • How, when and whereto buy inputs and sell products?
  • How to make decisions collectively on resource use and marketing?
  • How to find quicklythe most relevant and reliable knowledge and information?
  • What are the feasible off-farm income generation options available for him and how far he could depend on them?
• To make good decisions,farmers need information from different sources and often need help to integrate them. Farmers are presently receiving information from extension mainly on technologies generated in research stations and passed on to extension.