Factors affecting constraints perception of women practising mixed dairy farming

Abstract

The success story of Indian milk production has been written primarily by millions of rural producers and perhaps the major share of credit goes to women dairy farmers. Women are major contributors in the agricultural economy, but face various constraints that limit them from achieving optimal livestock production and agricultural development. The study was conducted in Hisar district of Haryana state to document the constraints affecting the growth of mixed dairy farming systems. The respondents for the study comprised of 60 women engaged in mixed dairy farming. The constraints perceived by the respondents were divided into six main areas viz., general, feeding, economic, management, health care and breeding. Management and feeding constraints were perceived as most serious. Constraints like, 'high cost of animal feeds and fodders' 'fragmentation of land holdings', 'high losses due to animal diseases' were rated as most serious by the respondents. On the other hand they were least bothered about constraints like 'non-availability of veterinary hospital in the village', 'vaccination facilities are not timely available', ' far away location of veterinary hospital is a problem', non-availability of veterinary surgeons' and 'lack of storage facility for dairy products'. Age, social participation, extension contact and mass media exposure were significantly and positively associated with constraint perception. Education, land holding, and risk orientation were negatively but insignificantly related to the constraint perception. Further studies in areas of market incentives and opportunities, diseases and animals, extension services and quality delivery, gender role and information seeking behaviour are advised.