Agriculture Update

Kalyan Mandi ¹, Ritu Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 Dairy Extension Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana), IN

Abstract

India is the world’s largest producer of milk, with 22 per cent of global production. According to NDDB Report 2018-19, India produced 187.7 MT of milk with per capita availability of 394 g/day. The dairy sector contributes 27 per cent of agriculture GDP and 67 per cent of the total output of the Livestock Sector, thus providing livelihood opportunity to 70 million households. Much of the success of the ‘White Revolution’ in India is attributed to the co-operative framework of dairy development strategies. After operation flood programme, even though India has stood self-sufficient in milk production, but milk production throughout the states in India is not uniformly distributed and therefore, there are huge demand and supply gap of milk and milk products in few states of Eastern India. Due to lack of proper infrastructure for dairy processing and manufacturing of milk and milk products, poor quality of milch cattle and buffalo breeds and lack of dairy services have posed challenged for dairy development. Less participation of dairy farmers in organized sectors like dairy co-operatives creates instability in the farm income for the dairy farmers. Several studies suggest that farmers’ participation in dairy co-operatives has resulted in a significant increase in milk production and productivity and has reduced per-unit cost of milk production thereby enabling them to achieve higher output prices, reduced transaction costs and increased profits. Therefore, dairy co-operatives can play instrumental role in harnessing the potential of the dairy sector in Eastern States of India.

Keywords

Milk, Production, Dairy, Farmers.

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Kalyan Mandi ¹, Ritu Chakravarty ¹

Affiliations
1 Dairy Extension Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal (Haryana), IN

Abstract

The progress of the country is related with tribal development as the tribal population in the country is not small. Tribal economy is mainly hunting, collecting and fishing or a combination of hunting, collecting with shifting cultivation. The tribal agriculture is primitive and backward resulting in low productivity. Tribal agriculture is characterized by small land holdings, improper land utilization, poor farming techniques, over grazing of pastures, low capital investment and low production inputs. Tribal areas are in the nature’s lap and agriculture has unique potential to absorb these people and creating opportunities for employment. It was found that tribal farmers were aware of some improved farming practices but did not have detail knowledge and training on method of application of fertilizer, organic and chemical fertilizer doses and method of application, method of transplanting, plant protection measures, methods of harvesting and methods of inter-culturing. The indigenous knowledge of farmers is considered as important sources of information about the local farming systems, experiences, institutions, culture etc. Tribal women constitute half of the work force among tribals in India. Tribal women are discriminated, though they make enormous contribution to the agriculture and allied sectors. Due to absence of employment opportunities in agriculture sector; young people belonging to tribal communities are finding themselves at cross-road of life. There is strong need to sensitize and train the tribal folks through adequate extension, policy and financial support for holistic development of tribals in our country.

Keywords

Agriculture, Country, Farmers, Tribal.

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