TEMPORAL CHANGES IN THE DAIRY FARMING SCENARIO IN PUDUCHERRY

Abstract

A pilot study was conducted in Puducherry region to analyse the temporal changes in dairy cattle production in a span of five years. Under NPCBB (National Project Cattle and Buffalo Breeding), a bench mark survey was conducted in 2005 among dairy farmers in 120 villages of Puducherry region. A repeat survey was conducted among 68 farmers selected randomly from 6 of the above villages in 2010. The study revealed decrease in herd size (4 to 3) and household milk production (9.12 to 8.70 lts/ day) which were attributed to high feed cost and low milk procurement price. About 42% of the respondents shifted their occupation from dairying to either agricultural labour or crop farming, thereby indicating the decreasing interest of the respondents in dairy farming. Gradual decrease in the milk procurement (60,000 to 35,000 lts / day) by the Pondicherry milk producers union (PONLAIT) over the years lend credence to findings of the study. These negative trends in dairy farming scenario in Puducherry calls for appropriate policy formulation and implementation.