Constraints faced by dairy farmers in hill region of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Dairy farming has been an indispensable activity in history of human civilization which is not only important from economic point of view but it has nutritional importance too as an alternative food for ever growing human population. This activity is carried out in millions of households across the state and provides employment to the marginal and landless farmers. Despite this, Milk production of state is 1.656 MT, contributing 1.15 percent to dairy industry. Research studies pinpoint toward possibility of improving dairy industry with empowering dairy farmers. For this purpose, lacunae in dairy farming at farmer level especially in hill areas of Uttarakhand needs to be studied thoroughly. Against this backdrop, the present study was conducted with the objective to study socio-economic, psychological and communication characteristics of dairy farmers and elicit the constraints faced by dairy farmers. The study was carried out in Almora district of Uttarakhand, selected purposively. Two districts i.e., Dwarahat and Tarikhet blocks were selected by simple random sampling. The present study reported that unavailability of green fodder round the year, low productivity of animal, non-remunerative prices of milk were major three constraints faced by dairy farmers. Furthermore, other constraints found were high cost of concentrate mixture, unavailability of resource person, lack information about government schemes, unavailability of concentrate mixture, improper disposal animal waste, occurrence of diseases among animal, Unavailability of drinking water and poor conception rate in Artificial Insemination.