Impact of “Integrated Murrah Development Scheme” (IMDS) on dairy farmers of Haryana state of India^#

The present study was taken up to measure the impact “Integrated Murrah Development Schemes (IMDS) on socio-economic status of the beneficiaries as well as on productive and reproductive performance of the Murrah buffaloes of the beneficiaries. ‘Z’ test analysis indicated that there was significant difference in socio-economic status of the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries viz; milk consumption, milk sale at 5% level of probability, while; herd size, type of animal shed, material possession, milk production, annual income from dairying, annual gross income of the respondents at 1% level of probability. Similarly, there was significant difference in productive and reproductive performance of Murrah buffaloes of the beneficiaries and non beneficiaries viz; age at first calving, calving interval, at 5% level of probability; while, number of AIs required per conception, lactation length, dry period, average lactation milk yield, average daily milk yield and peak yield at 1% level of probability. Most of the beneficiaries (73.75%) had medium level overall impact of IMDS on socio-economic status of the beneficiaries followed by high (17.50%) and low (8.75%). Whereas, medium level overall impact of IMDS was found on the productive and reproductive performance of Murrah buffaloes of the majority beneficiaries (89.38%) followed by high impact on few (10.63%). Such development programmes should be promoted for the improvement of socio economic status of farmers as well as improvement of milk productivity of the animals.