Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Quality of Raw Milk in Dairy Value Chain

Abstract

In India fast deterioration in milk quality has been observed in dairy value chain, which needs to be taken into consideration by introducing the concept of clean milk production. The present study was conducted in the area of Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) to identify the socio-economic factors of dairy farmers, which affects the raw milk quality from pail to dock level. A total of 120 farmers were selected on the basis of proportionate random sampling from four district milk unions of RCDF. The milk samples collected from three different levels viz. pail (producer), Dairy Co-operative Society (DCS), and dock (processing plant) were analyzed using Methylene Blue Reduction Test (MBRT) to estimate milk quality. The raw milk quality in RCDF’s dairy value chain was ‘very good’ at pail, ‘good’ at DCS and ‘fair’ at dock level. Data on different socio-economic factors of the respondents were analyzed using different statistical methods. The overall results revealed family education status, experience in dairying, social participation, land holding, herd size, annual income, and milk production and milk sale had positive and significant correlation with the milk quality at pail level of milk collection. These characters except land holding had positive and significant correlation with milk quality at DCS level. At dock level family size, social participation, land holding and milk sale had positive and significant correlation with milk quality; however, land holding had negative and significantly correlation. Social participation and annual income were able to explain 42.26 percent variability in the milk quality at pail level. At the DCS level social participation, land holding and milk sale were able to explain 54.09 percent of variability in milk quality. Family size, land holding, average milk consumption and sale were able to explain 28.15 percent variability in milk quality at dock level.