Index Approach and Livelihood Security of Small Scale Buffalo Farmers in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

The research aims to study the livelihood security status of buffalo farmers in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The information collected through direct interview using pretested structured interview schedule. A Total number of 120 buffalo farmers who possess at least two milch animals were selected from six villages using purposive and multi-stage random sampling. A composite of livelihood security index was developed for the study. The index values were further analyzed and categorized in to high, medium and low using appropriate statistical operations. The different dimensions of livelihood security studied were food, economic, livestock farming, social, institutional and environmental security. The food security (78.10%) was in better situation as compared to others and environmental security (31.20%) was in most vulnerable situation. The study inferred that most (40.80%) of the buffalo farmers were in medium livelihood security situation and the trend is towards better livelihood in the study area.