A study was conducted to assess the involvement of women in various components of ethno veterinary practices in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu state. It was found that assisting the traditional practitioner was the most preferred activity where women involved with much enthusiasm in both Cuddalore and Nagapattinam Districts

Anbiah, Vigil

Vijayalakshmi, Ranganathan

Journal of Extension Education

English

5719 Role of Women in Ethno Veterinary Practices S.Vigil Anbiah1 and R.Vijayalakshmi2ABSTRACT A study was conducted to assess the involvement of women in various components of ethno veterinary practices in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu state. It was found that assisting the traditional practitioner was the most preferred activity where women involved with much enthusiasm in both Cuddalore and Nagapattinam Districts.Keywords: Ethno Veterinary, Women, Livestock, India1.Head-In-Charge, Central Animal House, Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University and 2.  Associate Professor and Head, Department of Animal Husbandry, Annamalai University.  Annamalai Nagar – 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.Received : 17-07-2017; Accepted : 01-08-2017 Medicinal plants, since time immemorial, have been used in virtually all cultures as a source of medicine. The use of traditional medicine and medicinal plants in most developing countries, as a normative basis for the maintenance of good health, has been widely observed (UNESCO, 1996). Ethno-veterinary medicine (EVM) is a system that is based on folk beliefs, traditional knowledge, skills, methods and practices pertaining to the healthcare of animals that are rarely codified and transmitted orally from generation to generation (Mathias-Mundy & McCorkle, 1989; Tabuti et al, 2003). This knowledge is based on close observation of animals and/or the oral transmission of experience from one generation to the next. It is perceived as simple, cost-effective, environment friendly, contextually appropriate and culture-based (Kolawale et al, 2007)  Women possess indigenous knowledge to treat diseases using medicinal plant compounds, manipulative techniques, herd management as well as socio-cultural procedures. Involvement of women in small holder livestock system would improve the livelihood standards by more profit oriented activities. However   the participation of women in ethno-veterinary  practices is decreasing. Hence a study was conducted to assess the role of women in ethno veterinary practices among the livestock farmers of Cuddalore and Nagapattinam Districts of Tamil Nadu. METHODOlOGY The study was conducted in Research Note Journal of Extension EducationVol. 28  No. 3,  2016DOI:https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2016.3.28.5719-57225720Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu state.  These districts were identified by the planning commission of India as disadvantaged districts of Tamil Nadu and the farmers are engaged in low cost livestock rearing activities. Hence a low cost treatment facility to livestock farmers will be of much use and therefore an initiative to assess the role of women in ethno veterinary practices was taken up to know their respective roles in handling medicinal plants and herbs.   A sample of 150 respondents in each of the districts was finalised   for the data collection.To understand the role of women in Ethno Veterinary Practices, the respondents were given a set of questions in the regional language designed for this purpose.  A well structured and pre-tested interview schedule was used for the collection of data. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION The details of participation of women in various Ethno Veterinary Practices in Cuddalore & Nagapattinam Districts are furnished in Table 1.table 1. Role of Women in Ethno Veterinary Practices in Cuddalore & Nagapattinam  Districts(n=150)Sl.No.ActivitiesDistrictCuddalore NagapattinamNo. % No. %1. Assisting the traditional practitioners 99 66.00 101 67.302. Preparation of herbal extract 40 26.70 34 22.703. Marketing of poly herbal medicines 06 4.00 09 6.004. Feeding poly herbal extract to animals 04 2.70 06 4.005. Gathering medicinal plants 01 0 .60 0 0.00Total 150 100 150 100 From Table 1, it is understood that nearly two-thirds of women in both the districts  (66.00%  in Cuddalore district and 67.30 %  in Nagapattinam District) were actively involved in assisting the traditional practitioners in treating the animals. Assistance to traditional practitioners is the most preferred activity of women because of their knowledge reinforcement and learning opportunities to prepare and market herbal preparations.  By this, women get a chance to know about the ethno-veterinary practices. The traditional healers also expect the active assistance of the owners of the herds while treating  Role of Women in Ethno Veterinary Practices 5721the animals. About one-fourth of the women respondents (26.70 % and 22.70% respectively from Cuddalore and Nagapattinam districts) played a very significant role in the preparation of herbal extract   for treating the animals. In indigenous treatment women prepared the herbal extract under the guidance  and supervision of indigenous practitioners. Marketing of poly herbal medicine for domestic livestock is done by a very few respondents. (4.00 % in Cuddalore district  and 6.00 % in Nagapattinam District). As more number of modern  (allopathy) veterinary clinics are established in these districts the marketing of poly-herbal extract  does not remain a lucrative enterprise. Hence very less number of women are involved in it. Gathering of medicinal plants in the nearby forest areas, bushes, meadows etc were usually done by women in earlier days. But at present gathering of medicinal plants is a hectic task which could not be accomplished by women work force.  It requires enormous trekking in high altitude ranges to gather medicinal plants. Women did not show interest possibly due to their family responsibilities. Also it provides them very poor revenue. Hence women respondents had almost stopped this practice. In general, people prefer to get treatment for their livestock in modern veterinary dispensaries instituted by the government where free services are offered. Hence the number of ethno veterinary practitioners is decreasing and women also play very little role in ethno-veterinary treatment. However considering the significance  of ethno veterinary medicines it is high time to document these practices and preserve the wealth of the knowledge of the indigenous veterinary practices.  It is concluded that ethno veterinary practices is  traditional  knowledge which is  based on close observation of animals and oral transmission of  management as well as treatment experience from one generation to the other. Though it is perceived as simple, cost-effective and eco friendly , the role of women in this activity brings rural sustainable livelihood with low external input for livestock rearing. Though there are certain demerits in the involvement of women in terms of their family commitments, their association with the traditional practitioners in the preparation of herbal formulations would give a sustainable income to their families. This trend was observed in the respondents interviewed in both the Cuddalore and Nagapattinam Districts of Tamil Nadu. REFERENCESKolawole, O.D., Okorie. V.O., Ogidiowa. M.T., & Adeogun M.O. (2007).Ethno-veterinary practices amongst smallholder farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. African Journal of  Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 4,434–442 Journal of Extension Education5722 Mundy Mathias, E. & McCorkle C. M. (1989). Ethnoveterinary Medicine: An Annotated Bibliography, Bibliographies in Technology and Social Change. Technology and Social change Program, Series No 6, Iowa State University. Tabuti, J.R.S., Dhillion, S.S. & Lye, K.A.  (2003). Ethno veterinary medicine for cattle (Bos indicus) in Bulamogi county Uganda: plant species and mode of use. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 88:279-286. UNESCO (1996). Culture and Health, Orientation Texts – World Decade for Cultural Development 1988 1997, Document CLT/DEC/PRO – 1996, Paris, France. Role of Women in Ethno Veterinary Practices 

Role of Women in Ethno Veterinary Practices

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Journal of Extension Education

Directory of Open Access Journals