Technical efficiency in milk production in Indo-Gangetic plain of India: status and determinants

Abstract

India is the largest milk producer in the world with annual production of about 105 million tonnes in 2007–08. But, milk productivity in India is very low and there is a tremendous scope for its enhancements. The study has measured farm-specific technical efficiency in milk production and has identified its determinants to suggest options for increasing farm level efficiency to strengthen competitiveness of dairy farmers. It has been shown that India has potential to increase milk production by about 25% at the existing level of technological development. However, improvement in technical efficiency in milk production requires adequate and quality veterinary services, augmentation of feed and fodder resources at the farm, integration with formal marketing system, and scaling-up of the dairy enterprise.