Economics of milk production and determinants of market participation for small holder dairy farmers in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. The study was based on primary data collected from 100 dairy farmers categorized into three category viz. small (having 1 milch animal), medium (having 2 to 3 milch animals) and large (having 4 and above milch animals). Among the three species of milch animals, the maintenance cost per milch animal per day was the highest for crossbred cow    ` 115, followed by buffalo ` 85.36 and ` 33.09 for local cow, respectively. Among the various cost components, expenditure on feed constituted the highest percentage ranging from 58.72% for local cow to 84.21% for crossbred respectively.  Cost per litre of milk production was the highest for buffalo (` 30.57) followed by local cow (` 29.35) and the least for crossbred (` 23.78). Net return per milch animal was the highest for crossbred ` 12.96 followed by buffalo ` 4.58. Rearing of local cow incur a loss of ` 1.92 per milch animal per day.  Education and number of milch animals was found to positively affect the level of market participation while size of land holding and nonfarm income negatively affect the market participation of milk producers.