Constraints perceived by members of Manipur (India) milk producers cooperative union in practicing improved dairy farming

The study was conducted in the state Manipur to identify and quantify the various constraints faced by the dairy farmers of Manipur Milk Producers Cooperative Union in practicing the improved dairy farming practices. Four districts of Manipur namely Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur were selected purposively because all the 88 registered milk cooperative societies are located in these districts. Five villages from one block each of the districts were selected randomly where registered milk cooperative societies were located. Six members those who were the members of cooperative society and owned the highest number of dairy animals were selected randomly to constitute a total sample size of 120 for the study. It was found that the most serious constraints encountered by the members in different areas of breeding, feeding, management, health care and fodder production in improved dairy farming practices were ‘high cost in treatment of breeding related problem’, ‘high cost of feed ingredients’, ‘scientific management of dairy animals’, ‘high cost of veterinary medicines’, and ‘land for fodder cultivation’ respectively. It was also found that the farmer’s perception towards the overall constraints was highest in the area of health care practices.