Ascertainment of Constraints Faced by Dairy Farmers for Adoption of Scientific Dairy Farming Practices in Anand district, Gujarat

The present investigation was conducted as programmed interviews of a total of 100 dairy farmers in five different rural localities of Anand district of Gujarat state (India) in order to find out major constraints faced by dairy farmers and to disseminate the suggestions for solving the constraints with a view towards adoption of scientific dairy farming. Higher population of dairy farmers agreed to face constraints in terms of (i) higher cost of feeds and fodder, (ii) high rates of interest on loans, (iii) lesser awareness regarding government schemes for effective animal husbandry, (iv) irregular reproductive physiology/estrous cycles in animals and associated reasons, (v) lack of knowledge about contagious diseases and (vi) lack of knowledge about clean milk production. The study is first of its kind in a larger population of rural dairy farmers which also includes suggestions reciprocated. The data provides baseline information regarding present status of constraints faced by farmers, which will be helpful in future to disseminate knowledge on scientific animal husbandry practices with an ultimate goal towards better animal production that significantly contributes to national economy.