Sexed semen is one of the newest reproductive technologies available for dairy farmers and can fulfil their desire to produce a high percentage of female calves. The present study was designed to define the willingness of Indian dairy farmers to pay for sexed semen. Hence, 120 small holder dairy farmers and 90 commercial dairy farmers were randomly selected from Karnal and Yamunanagar districts in North-western Haryana, where there is a high proportion of crossbred dairy cattle. Willingness to pay for sexed semen was evaluated by a contingent valuation method and its determinants by an interval regression model. The majority of the small holder dairy farmers (81.67%) were willing to pay for sexed semen and they were ready to pay around INR 340 per sexed semen straw. Almost all (99%) of the commercial dairy farmers were willing to pay around INR 770 per sexed semen straw, i.e. more than double the value identified by small holder dairy farmers. Among all the predictors fitted in the interval regression model to explain the willingness to pay for sexed semen by the commercial dairy farmers, namely education level, herd size and attitude towards public extension systems, were positive and significant contributors. Our findings may help to identify what subsidy is required to promote sexed semen among dairy farmers, and as a consequence further improve breeding policies by introducing this new livestock production technology with the active participation of the dairy farmers.

Women empowerment is always considered as the key aspect of social development throughout the world. Self Help Group is one of the most important approaches for women empowerment in India. This present study was designed to trace out the impact of Self Help Group in women empowerment in Nadia district of West Bengal, India. Both the members (beneficiaries) and non-members (non-beneficiaries) were considered for this study. It was found that beneficiaries had higher score in all the four dimensions of empowerment, that is, personal autonomy index, family decision making index, domestic economic consultation index and political autonomy index as well as aggregate empowerment index. It may be concluded that Self Help Group approach had a significant impact on women empowerment in Nadia district of West Bengal, India. Key words: Empowerment, self help group, West Bengal.

Coastal West Bengal, also known as ‘Cyclone capital of India’, is one of the most vulnerable regions due to the impact of cyclone-led climate disasters, disproportionately affecting the smallholder livestock rearers. Therefore, understanding the adaptation strategies available to smallholder livestock rearers and the factors influencing their adoption behaviour would facilitate an understanding of how they cope with the negative impacts of climate change. This study aimed to identify and explore climate adaptation strategies in the livestock sector as adopted by smallholder livestock rearers in coastal West Bengal. It also attempted to analyse the determinants influencing the adoption behaviour of the rearers at both levels of the adoption decision and intensity of adoption. Primary cross-sectional data were collected from 360 smallholder livestock rearers across all districts of coastal West Bengal using a multistage sampling approach. The double hurdle model was employed to assess adoption behaviour. Seven key adaptation strategies were identified, including improved feeding practices, shifting from large ruminants to small ruminants, availing of livestock insurance, well-ventilated housing, relocating animals to a safe place during disasters, preserving fodder, and providing more healthcare practices for livestock. While herd size, availability of climatic information, and community participation had a positive influence on the farmers’ adoption decisions, the availability of non-institutional credit and infrastructure had a negative influence. The intensity of adoption was positively influenced by herd size, access to institutional credit, training received, community participation, and access to livestock extension services. The findings support the need for policy advocacy to provide institutional credit, strengthen institutions to facilitate better extension services, and establish safe places for animals, such as cyclone shelters. Climate policy should consider addressing the heterogeneity responsible for non-adoption among farmers through awareness-building and the provision of incentives. Policy should also be geared towards easy accessibility to better healthcare services for livestock, availability of improved feeds and fodder, a community fodder bank and an organised market for livestock produce.

Background: The present study was conducted to study the resilience capacity towards changing climate of a farming community who reared specifically Murrah buffaloes in their livestock production system for their livelihood. As the study area was breeding tract of Murrah buffalo, hence in-depth study of resilience was performed in frequent changing climate. Methods: In order to assess the resilience capacity and their relation with socioeconomic characteristic, total 320 Murrah buffalo farmers across four districts in India’s Trans-Gangetic Plain, data were gathered using focused group discussions, PRA tools and in person interviews. Statistical tools such as principal component analysis for index development, cumulative square root methods for categorization of respondents and regression analysis were performed for exploring relationship. Result: Result depicted that majority of the farmers has medium level of climate resilience index score i.e. 0.456. Further, it was found that farmer’s involvement in social institute such as, gram panchayat, agriculture and dairy co-operative society, self-help group, farmers’ association and others affected their resilience capacity in changing climatic scenario. The need for better technology inclusion and access to more formal systems of finance is necessary to increase the overall resilience capacity of households.