A Study on Factors Influencing Milk Market Outlet Choices in Maharashtra

The present study was undertaken in five regions of Maharashtra. To achieve the objectives of the study primary data was collected from five regions of the Maharashtra state namely; Konkan, Western Maharashtra (WM), Khandesh, Marathwada and Vidarbha. Multinomial Logit Model was employed to analyze factors influencing milk market outlet choice. While studying milk market outlet choices it was found that education, distance from milk saleplace, distance from metallic road (DTMR), distance from main market (DFMM) and milk price influence on farmers decision to sell milk to cooperative channel. Education, herd size, milk production, milk price and milk collection centre (MCC) significantly influence on the farmers choice to sell milk to private channel. Family size, DFMM, milk production and milk price variables related to the participation in cooperative and unorganised channels. Family size, herd size, DFMM and milk price had relation to the farmers’ decision to participate in private and unorganised channels.