Costs and returns of the rural dairy enterprises: A study in Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh

India is not only largest producer of milk in the world but having largest population of cattle and buffaloes as well. Milk is the major source of animal protein for majority of the people in this country. A study of the economics of its production is of great value. This will lead to more production of milk and make the business remunerative. In the rural areas, crop and livestock operations are integrated into a local system where waste from each operation is processed and transported to become a cheap input for the other. The surplus fodder and agricultural byproducts are gainfully utilised for feeding the animals. However, the problem of estimating accurately the production cost, and its components for this commodity is complicated because for most of the producers, milk production is side line incidental to the maintenance of cattle for agricultural purposes. Moreover, majority of the producers being illiterate do not maintain detailed systematic accounts. Therefore, in the present paper an effort has been made to study the costs and returns of different milch bovines.