Participatory rural appraisal for identification ethno-veterinary practices among primitive tribal groups of Girwa block, Udaipur, India

Abstract

The participatory rural appraisal (PRA) exercise was conducted in Girwa block of Udaipur, India. Girwa (Geog. Lat. 24.58° N, Geog. Long. 73.6962° E) is a part of southern Aravali hills wherein 28% of the population belongs to the primitive tribal groups such as the Bheels, Meena, Gameti and Rawat. Since, animal husbandry is the main economic activity for tribal people of southern Aravali zone; it is important to study current animal health care system in the region. It was in this context that the PRA exercise was done as a pilot study to document, rapidly assess, and promote ethnoveterinary practices. The field work conducted in 15 villages and on 3742 animals which were being reared by the community under study to support agriculture and for milk purpose . A total 26 animal diseases in which ethnoveterinary practices were resorted to and 15 ethno-veterinary medicinal plants were identified as part of the study.

Keywords

• animal husbandry
• ethno-veterinary practices
• participatory rural appraisal
• traditional knowledge
• tribal community