Vol. 9, Issue 4, Part F (2024)

Author(s): A Dutta, JD Mahanta, R Saikia, R Islam, S Payeng and L Bora

Abstract: Twelve villages (2 from each development block) and twelve duck farmers from each village were selected and thus a total 144 numbers of duck farmers were selected from Morigaon district of Assam to know the indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) in traditional duck farming of Assam. The duck farmers were selected on the basis of their experience in duck farming. The data were collected by direct interview method by the researchers and by observation and were recorded in a pre-structured interview schedule. The result indicated that majority of the duck farmers raised Pati duck in small numbers (10 to 25). The sex ratio maintained at 1:5 for breeding and ducks were bred naturally. The incubation mostly carried out by broody hen or broody duck. The duck farmers seldom cleaned eggs for hatching and most (89.39%) of them did not candle hatching eggs during natural incubation. Majority of them used paddy straw as nesting material. The results indicated that April to July was found to best hatching period. The ducks were let loose in the morning in search of feed and kept in a shelter at night. They were mostly supplemented with kitchen wastes, left over grains, some locally available plants. During early part of their life ducklings were kept in enclosures like fish trap, bamboo basket, nylon net etc. to protect them from predators. The ailing ducks were treated traditionally with some indigenous herbs like Turmeric (Curcuma longa), green chili paste, black pepper (Piper nigrum), kolkhar (banana peels ash extract), Akashi lota (Cuscuta reflexa) and local traditional rice wine. It may be concluded that various ITKs were followed by the farmers in traditional duck farming and most of them had biological origin. Hence the identified ITKs are needed to be studied scientifically for validation.

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2024.v9.i4f.1577