Animal health perceptions and challenges among smallholder farmers around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India: A study using participatory epidemiological techniques

Smallholder farmers around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, face significant animal health challenges that hinder rural prosperity and sustainable development. Key issues include foot-and-mouth disease, Newcastle disease, haemorrhagic septicaemia, chronic fasciolosis, diarrhoea, bloating diseases, goat pox, and sarcoptic mange, exacerbated by seasonal flooding, wild predator raids, and limited access to veterinary services. A participatory epidemiological approach revealed farmers' adeptness in describing disease syndromes, highlighting the need for targeted vaccination programs and animal management schemes. Addressing these challenges could enhance productivity and prosperity, aligning with UNESCO World Heritage Site conservation goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Hopker, A., Pandey, N., Hopker, S., Saikia, D., Goswami, J., Marsland, R., Thrusfield, M., Saikia, R., Kundu, S., & Sargison, N. (2020). Animal health perceptions and challenges among smallholder farmers around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India: A study using participatory epidemiological techniques. Plos One, 15(9), e0237902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237902