Constraints Perceived by Farmers in Adopting Scientific Dairy Farming Practices in Madhuni district of Bihar

Jitendra umar, Birendra Kumar and *Sanjeev Kumar District Dairy Development Office, Gopalganj, Bihar, India

*Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Rajendra Agriculture University), Banka, Bihar, India e-mail: sanju_kvk@yahoo.co.in

A B S T R A C T

The study was carried out in six villages of Madhubani of Bihar to identify various constraints perceived by dairy farmers in adopting improved dairy farming practices. The data were collected through interview schedule from 150 dairy farmers of study area. The major constraints with respect to breeding were ill equipped AI services, repeat breeding and lack of pedigree bull for natural services, followed by low genetic potential of local animals, poor knowledge of AI services and poor availability of resources to maintain superior breed of milch animals. The main constraints among feeding practices, were inadequate knowledge about proper feeding of dairy animals and under feeding due to limited financial resources. In respect of major management and health care, ill equipped veterinary hospital, lack of awareness and knowledge about the information of vaccination, deworming etc other constraints, were lack of knowledge in making value added milk product, lack of dairy cooperative societies and lack of loan facilities were constraints for dairy farmers. Considering of these constraints, it is suggested that appropriate strategy may be formulated by the dairy development agency for transfer of technology related to improved dairy farming practices in the area.

Key words: Dairy farming, Constraints, Scientific practices, Adoption

Though, India became the largest milk producing

country in the world and their production is growing at

around 5% per annum (Department of animal

husbandry dairying & fisheries, animal report, 2007-

08). In India, dairying is recognized as an instrument for

social and economic development. But, unfortunately

inspite of several years of planed efforts, the pace of

development is not uniform in different parts of the

country. There is serious regional imbalance with

respect to production as well as per capita availability

and consumption of milk. Even in Bihar, the paces of

dairy development are not uniform. Madhubani is one

of the district of Bihar, is undeveloped in dairy sector

because it was not covered by operation flood

programme initiated by government of India. This may

also be due to the reason that the milk producers do not

follow the improved dairy farming practices at desire

level because of number of constraints. Since, 90% of

total populations of this district are depended on

agriculture and animal husbandry for their livelihood.

Hence, development in dairy sector in Madhubani will

certainly improves the socio-economic status and

quality of life in the area. Keeping in view, the present

study was conduct with the specific objective of

identifying the constraints perceived by milk producers

in adoption of scientific dairy farming practices.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in purposively selected

six villages namely Sukki, Ganauli, Bhawanipur,

Lokaha, Bhakhrain and Lokahi in Madhubani district.

Simple random sampling technique was used to select

25 milk producers (dairy farmers) from each village

constituting 150 milk producers as total respondents.

Open-ended questions were used to ascertain the

different constraints as perceived by the farmers in

adoption of scientific dairy farming practices. The data

collected were compiled, tabulated and analyzed to

draw meaningful conclusion. The constraints related to

breeding, feeding management and health care etc. were

ranked based on the frequency of responses expressed

by respondents for each constraint.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Constraints pertaining to scientific breeding practices

It is evident form Table 1 that the major constraints

(82.66%) whose rank first reported in non-adoption of

improved breeding practices, were ill equipped and

negligible services at artificial insemination (AI)

centres, followed by problem of repeat breeding in dairy

cattle (74.66%), whereas (69.33%) respondents realized

that lack of pedigrees bulls for natural services and its

ranked third. Other constraints were low genetic

potential of local animals (65.33%), poor availability of

resources to maintain cross breed/ superior of milch

animals (61.33%), inadequate knowledge of AI services

(58.66%). Our findings were not in concurrence with

the observation of Balakrishna (1997), Chaudhary and

Intodia (2000), Yedukondalu et al. (2000), Misra and

Pal (2003), Dabas et al. (2004) because these areas have

Research Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2011, 2(1): 142-145

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better functioning of government as well as private AI

centre, while study area had almost negligible in

functioning of AI centre of all blocks of Madhubani

district. Besides this, non availability of vaccine and

medicine at veterinary hospital in Madhubani on due

time. The present finding repeat breeding was got

support as the major constraint as observed by Vyas and

Patel (2001). However, our finding particularly, ill

equipped AI centre and repeat breeding problem got

support as major constraints as observed by Kumar et

al. 2009. It is therefore, necessary that government as

well as NGO (Non-government organization) must take

initiative for proper functioning of AI centres of

Madhubani district with all essential inputs.

Government should also encourage the private sector

for opening of AI centre in Madhubani district. The

district animal husbandry department must ensure the

timely availability of medicine and vaccine in all

veterinary hospitals of the district. Besides that, animal

husbandry department should also take assistance from

scientist of dairy of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK),

Madhubani for conducting animal health camps

relevant to breeding aspects, so that problems related to

breeding could be minimized. They should also conduct

joint training programme to improve the knowledge of

farmers about advantages of AI services, better keeping

of cross breed cows, so that milk production and

productivity could be enhanced in the study area.

Constraints related to scientific feeding practices

Proper feeding of milch animals is one of the basis

for successful dairy farming. The balance ration not

only helpful in maintaining proper health, growth and

reproduction, but also helpful in enhancing milk

production and productivity. A profitable dairy business

should not only have genetically high yielder, but also

should have provision for feeding to milch animals with

minimum cost of balance ration for gaining better

return. Table 1 reveals that majority of farmers

(81.33%) have inadequate knowledge about proper

feeding to milch animals, followed by under feeding

due to limited financial resources (78.66%), whereas

unavailability of feed and fodder during flood (76%) is

also one of the major hurdle in the study area for dairy

development. As most of time, in rainy season, most

parts of the district are submerged during floods. Other

constraints were poor availability of high yielding

varieties of fodder (74.66%), poor availability of high

cost of compound feed and mineral mixture (72%),

inadequate knowledge and resources for raising fodder

crops (61.33%). Our findings were in close accordance

with the most of finding of Pandey (1996), Misra and

Pal (2003), Dabas et al. (2004), Pal (2006), Kumar et al.

(2009). It is therefore, veterinary and animal husbandry

officers, district dairy development officers and

scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kendra and other developing

agencies must aware the farmers regarding scientific

feeding practices to dairy animals through conducting

training. Animal husbandry department must conduct

on-farm trail as well as front-line demonstration (FLD)

of high yielding varieties of feed and fodder and

conduct related training programme to upgrade their

knowledge level in improving feeding practices under

the guidelines of concern scientists of Krishi Vigyan

Kendra for making low cost balance ration from the

available resources, so that cost of milk production

could be minimized and farmers get proper market for

their milk with reasonable cost. In addition to this, dairy

development department must conduct skilled oriented

long term training for production of value added milk

products, so that they get more prices from their raw

material (milk). Due to submersion of most of parts of

area of the district during flood, alternate arrangement

should be done by the government agencies for

ensuring availability of feed and fodder to milch

animals.

Constraints related animal management and health

care practices

Better management and proper health care of dairy

animals is important for maintaining higher

productivity. It is apparent from table 1 that veterinary

hospitals were ill equipped with medicine and other

essential inputs. Thus, found one of the major hurdle

(84%) under the subhead of dairy management and

health care, followed by lack of awareness and

knowledge about importance of vaccination (80%)

among the farmers, whereas lack of knowledge about

scientific dairy management and health care (76.66%)

among the farmers. In addition to this poor knowledge

about clean milk production (72%) and poor housing to

dairy animals (69.33%), are the other major constraints

of dairy development in the study area. These findings

were in close conformity with the observations of Sah

(1999), Chaudhary and Intodia (2000), Yedukonadalu et

al. (2000), Podikunju et al. (2001), Dabas et al. (2004)

who have also reported almost similar constraint in

adoption of better management practices.

It is therefore, necessary that government must take

right steps to make available all infrastructures along

with sufficient supply of vaccine, medicine and other

services at least block level hospital of Madhubani. In

addition to this, animal husbandry department must

conduct vaccination/ deworming/ health care

programme with the help of scientists of KVK in the

study area in order to create awareness as well as

improve knowledge among farmers about importance of

schedule vaccination, deworming and health care of

dairy animals and also conduct training programme for

milk producers of study area about better management

of milch animals coupled with importance and

techniques of clean milk production. Government

should take proper action for controlling the high

charges taken by particularly government veterinary

doctor/staff for performing medical assistance.

Kumar et al.

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Table 1 Constraints in adoption of improved dairy farming practices as perceived by respondents (N = 150)

Constraints Frequency Percent Rank

I Breeding

Ill equipped AI centre & negligible services at AI centre. 124 82.66 I

Lack of Pedigree bulls for natural service 104 69.33 III

Inadequate knowledge of AI services 88 58.66 VI

Low genetic potential of local animals 98 65.33 IV

Repeat breeding problems in dairy cattle 112 74.66 II

Poor availability of resources to maintain crossbreed / superior

breed of milch animals

92 61.33 V

II Feeding

Inadequate knowledge about proper feeding of dairy animals 122 81.33 I

Inadequate knowledge for cultivation of fodder crops round the

year

92 61.33 VI

Poor availability of high yielding variety seeds of fodder. 112 74.66 IV

Under feeding due to limited financial resources. 118 78.66 II

Unavailability of seeds & fodder during floods. 114 76.00 III

Poor availability, high cost of compound feed and mineral mixture 108 72.00 V

III Management and Health care

Lack of awareness of deworming of milch animals 104 69.33 V

Lack of awareness & knowledge about importance of vaccination. 120 80.00 II

Veterinary hospitals are ill equipped, lacking facilities for

treatment, vaccine, medicine etc.

126 84.00 I

Poor knowledge about clean milk production 108 72.00 IV

Poor housing to dairy animals 96 64.00 VII

Poor knowledge of farmers about scientific animals management

and health practice

115 76.66 III

High cost/ charge levied by veterinary staff for performing

medical assistance.

100 66.66 VI

IV Others

Lack of dairy cooperative societies 118 78.66 II

Lack of loan facilities and high rate of interest 103 68.66 III

High production cost of milk. 98 65.33 IV

Lack of knowledge in making value added dairy products. 133 88.66 I

Other constraints

As evident from the Table 1 that majority of

respondent (88.66%) have not knowledge about

conversion of milk into value added even indigenous

milk products due to that they are not getting more

profit from their milk. It is also evident from table 1 that

majority of respondent (78.66%) have reported that

there are negligible dairy cooperative societies working

in the study area. Therefore, farmers were not getting

proper remuneration for their milk. Other constraints

are high production cost of milk (65.33%) and lack of

loan facility for dairy animals by bank also creating

constraints in adopting dairy as a business. Therefore,

government and milk federation must take corrective

action for formation of village level cooperative

societies, so that farmers get proper market for their

milk with reasonable cost. In addition to this dairy

development department must conduct skill-oriented

long term training programs for production of value

added milk products, so that they get more prices, from

their raw material (milk). Bank of local area should

encourages the rural youth for dairy business by easily

availability of loans with reasonable interest or

providing subsidies to dairy farmers by the dairy

development department for promoting dairy business

in the study area.

CONCLUSION

The present study reveals that there are several

constraints in each aspect of improved dairy farming

practices in the study area of Madhubani. Keeping in

view of above study, there is need from government or

other dairy development agencies to make available all

essential infrastructures along with proper supply of

technical inputs and services at the same time.

Veterinary and animal husbandry department and dairy

development department, KVK of district should try to

motivate farmers about the advantages of dairy business

and acquaints the farmers about different aspects of

scientific breeding, feeding, animal management and

health care through conductivity training programmes,

vaccination/ deworming/ health camps/ FLD and on

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Constraints Perceived by Farmers in Adopting Scientific Dairy Farming

farm trails of high yielding varieties of feed and fodder,

value addition of milk etc. In addition to this,

government dairy development department should try to

establish milk chilling centre at different location of

Madhubani district for collection and preservation of

milk, so that farmers can be motivated for opting dairy

as a business. If all suggestive measures taken up by

government then only the study area will get

momentum in dairy sector.

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