Farmers Innovation
Title: Low cost rabbit rearing farmer’s innovation
Brief description of the innovation/technology and methodology designed/developed (or the innovation transferred by R & D institutions modified according to local situation) by the farmers
The KVK, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Tura, West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya were intervened on Rabbit for meat production with improved breeds New Zealand white and Soviet chinchilla supplied by Animal Science Division, ICAR, Umiam. The rabbit were reared in the scientific house and cage method made of welded iron wire net etc. The farmers were trained on scientific rabbit management and distributed rabbits for their future way of earning. The cost of construction of modern rabbit rearing house was more and not affordable by small and marginal farmers. So, the farmers Sri Arbit Marak of Morokgre village, under Gambegre Block, Sri Chitra Ranjan Hajong and Sri Drurba Hajong of Bhoirakupi village, under Zikzak Block had modified and developed a low cost bamboo house with thatch roofing and bamboo cage for rearing of rabbits to earn more for the period of atleast 3-4 years. The modified system of rabbit rearing saved labour and time with more profitability as compared to scientific method of rearing house and cage of rabbit. This modified system is popular, economical and adaptable across the small and marginal farmers of the locality in the district which was disseminated to the adjoining villages.
The details of the problems addressed and solved
The cost of construction of scientific rabbit rearing house was more and not affordable by small and marginal farmers. Hence, the farmers of West Garo Hills district had innovated the low cost rabbit rearing house and cage to save labour and time as well as to earn more profit.
The relative advantages of the technology are as follows
| Technology unit | Cost of technology /Unit(Rs) | Number of Rabbit/Unit | Cost of production (Rs/Unit) | Gross return (Rs/Unit) | B:C Ratio | Labour & Time saving (%) | % Adoption | |
| Labour | Time | |||||||
| Rabbit House Size:-12'x 4'x7' |
900/- | 7 | 4,600/- | 16,150/- | 3.51 | 12 | 50 | 18 |
| Rabbit Cage Size:-6'x 3'x 2.5' |
300/- | 3 | 1,800/- | 6,460/- | 3.59 | 15 | 60 | 25 |
Outcome
The low cost bamboo house with thatch roofing and bamboo cage for rearing of rabbits brought out across the system for the period of atleast 3-4 years. The net return per rupee investment was recorded with 3.59 in the cage and 3.51 in the house. The farmer’s innovation of low cost rabbit rearing house and cage saved about 13.5 % labour and 55 % time as compared to other rabbit rearing system.
Details of the innovative farmers
| Name of farmer | Address for communication | Photo |
| Sri Arbit Marak | Village: Morokgre, P.O: Gambegre, Dist: West Garo Hills |  |
| Sri Chitra Ranjan Hajong | Village: Bhoirakupi, P.O: Zikzak, Dist: West Garo Hills |  |
| Sri Drurba Hajong | Village: Bhoirakupi, P.O: Zikzak, Dist: West Garo Hills |  |
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Scientific Rabbit Housing |
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Rabbit House design by Sri Arbit Marak of Morokgre village, under Gambegre Block |
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Rabbit Bamboo cage design by Sri Chitra Ranjan Hajong (Middle) and Sri Drurba Hajong (Right) of Bhoirakupi village, under Zikzak Block |
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