The Asian Journal of Animal Science

Rachna ¹, Gautam ², Anika Malik ², S. S. Sangwan ², Kamaldeep ³, Richa Khirbat ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Dairy Business Management, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
2 Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
3 Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
4 Institute of Para Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN

Abstract

The success story of Indian milk production has been written primarily by millions of rural producers and perhaps the major share of credit goes to women dairy farmers. Women are major contributors in the agricultural economy, but face various constraints that limit them from achieving optimal livestock production and agricultural development. The study was conducted in Hisar district of Haryana state to document the constraints affecting the growth of mixed dairy farming systems. The respondents for the study comprised of 60 women engaged in mixed dairy farming. The constraints perceived by the respondents were divided into six main areas viz., general, feeding, economic, management, health care and breeding. Management and feeding constraints were perceived as most serious. Constraints like, ‘high cost of animal feeds and fodders’ ‘fragmentation of land holdings’, ‘high losses due to animal diseases’ were rated as most serious by the respondents. On the other hand they were least bothered about constraints like ‘non- availability of veterinary hospital in the village’, ‘vaccination facilities are not timely available’, ‘ far away location of veterinary hospital is a problem’, non- availability of veterinary surgeons’ and ‘lack of storage facility for dairy products’. Age, social participation, extension contact and mass media exposure were significantly and positively associated with constraint perception. Education, land holding, and risk orientation were negatively but insignificantly related to the constraint perception. Further studies in areas of market incentives and opportunities, diseases and animals, extension services and quality delivery, gender role and information seeking behaviour are advised.

Keywords

Mixed Dairy Farming System, Women, Constraints, Livestock, Dairying.

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Rachna ¹, Gautam ², Anika Malik ², S. S. Sangwan ², Richa Khirbat ³, Kamaldeep ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Dairy Business Management, College of Dairy Science and Technology, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
2 Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
3 Institute of Para Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
4 Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajput Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN

Abstract

Among the different forms of livestock farming, dairying is considered as a “treasure” of the Indian rural economy. For the design and implementation of support programmes to promote dairy farming for rural development and for adoption of new technologies in dairy, profile of the dairy farmers is an important factor in developing countries like India. By considering this aspect the study was undertaken in Hisar district of Haryana. Among the 60 dairy farmers 73.3 per cent of respondents were middle aged with mean age of about 43 years. The respondents had fairly good formal education with mean value of 4.23 which indicates that majority (96.6%) of dairy farmers were literate. Family structure of dairy farmers was 65.0 per cent of the respondents belonged to joint families and 35.0 per cent to nuclear families. The family land holding ranged from 1 to 6 acres with a mean 2.60 acres. 43.3 per cent of the respondents preferred to have a herd size of 3-5 dairy animals. The respondents in general had poor social participation with mean value as low as 0.16. Further, majority of the respondents had low level of extension contact with mean value of 2.23. Mass media exposure of dairy farmers was also low with mean value of 2.65 which indicates majority (73.3%) of dairy farmers had low level of mass media exposure. However, economic motivation of dairy farmer was fairly high with mean value of 22.56. The dairy farmers in general had medium risk orientation with mean value 18.28.

Keywords

Dairy Farmers, Socio-Economic Profile, Dairying, Rural Development, Livestock Farming.

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