Cost and Net Returns from Milk Production in Beed District of Maharashtra State

The study conducted on 11 talukas of Beed district during 2007–2008 by using multistage stratified random sampling technique revealed that cost of milk production varies according to geographical location of the area. High cost of milk production (in Rs. per litre) for cow milk was observed in Ashti (Rs. 10.88), Georai (Rs.10.78), Majalgaon (Rs. 10.78), Patoda (Rs. 10.74), and Shirur (Rs.10.38) where as low cost of milk production (in Rs. per litre) for cow milk was observed in Kaij (Rs.8.02), Parali (Rs.8.30), Dharur (Rs. 8.34), Wadwani (Rs.9.18), Ambajogai (Rs. 9.68) and Beed (Rs.10.24). High cost of milk production (in Rs. per litre) for buffalo milk was observed in Patoda (Rs. 13.41), Majalgaon (Rs. 13.41), Ashti (Rs.12.72), Shirur (Rs. 12.21), Beed (Rs. 11.87) and Georai (Rs. 11.62) where as low cost of milk production was observed in Kaij (Rs. 9.31), Parali (Rs. 9.32), Dharur (Rs. 9.32), Wadwani (Rs. 10.00) and Ambajogai (Rs.10.37). The cost of milk production per litre was higher in case of Buffaloes than that of cows; similarly milk production was higher in buffaloes than cows. Due to natural vegetation and availability green grass over mountain ranges of Balaghat which includes Dharur, Kaij Parali, Ambajogai and Wadwani talukas reduces expenditure on fodder, feeds and labour. Hence, cost of milk production become significantly low in these areas.