Status of Small Dairy Farming in Kandi and Plain Region of Punjab State

Dairying is a secure and safest path to the development of the rural areas and there is a need to know the status of small dairy farms in plain and kandi region. Thus, the present study was conducted in the two agroclimatic zones of Punjab state i.e. kandi and plain zone. From each zone two districts, one block from each district and further three villages from each block and fifteen farmers from each village were selected randomly. The data were collected with personal interview method. The study indicates that all the respondents from both the regions possessed the important facilities i.e. shed, clean and fresh water, kacha area and proper urine disposal at their farms. Majority had east-west direction sheds and were disinfecting their sheds. In kandi region by and large availability of green fodder was difficult as compared to plain region. Half of the respondents were using artificial insemination for dairy animals in both regions. Semen was procured mostly from private sources. More than 85 to 87 per cent of milk produced was sold in both kandi and plain regions respectively. Majority of the kandi region farmers were self-marketing their produce whereas, in plain region milk was mainly marketed through cooperatives. It is suggested that to discourage the dairy farmers from seeking the service of quacks, veterinary officer should be available in the rural areas. Further good quality semen should be made available to the small dairy farmers at reasonable rates. To make dairy more profitable for small dairy farmers in plain region, self-marketing needs to be encouraged. Farmers need to be educated for scientific dairy practices to make it more profitable.