Philippine E-Journals

Effect of Participatory Technology Development on Farmers' Changing Pattern of Worm Control in Goats

Virginia M. Venturina | Anna Marie P. Alo | F.g. Gabunada Jr | Emilio M. Cruz | Edwin C. Villar | E.t. Lambio

Discipline: Agribusiness, Animal Science

 

Abstract:

A total of 460 upgrade goats of 16 farmers from three focal sites representing a rice-mango producing area, a fishing village, and a coconut farming community were used to determine the effect of participatory technology development on farmers' changing pattern of worm control in goats. Farmers chose technology options for worm control based on their needs, capabilities, and resources. Technology adoption in each focal site was evaluated in terms of deworming frequency, incidence of worm-related morbidities, and mortalities before and after project implementation. The impact of technology adoption was determined by participatory appraisal tools such as technology preference ranking, maps and group discussions, and using descriptive statistics. The study showed that with farmers' adoption of different worm control technologies, goats may be given single anthelmintic treatment (1.3 times) per year without compromising the general condition of the animals. Across sites, the average recommended frequency of treatment based on fecal egg count was 1.93. Nine out of 16 farmers did not follow these recommendations and instead, relied on their personal assessment of the animal's condition. Mean worm-related morbidity across sites (51 %) before initiation of the project was reduced to 6.2%, or a change rate of 82.6%. Similarly, the deaths due to worm-related conditions before the project (66.7%) decreased to 2.6%, or a change rate of 95.3%. Housing was the most highly preferred technology by farmer-cooperators in three focal sites, followed by stall feeding, complete confinement, strategic deworming, then tethering or free grazing. The participatory approach to technology development helped farmers to learn to value the integrated approach to worm control, and eventually shift from the common method (complete reliance on anthelmintics).