Milk producers perceptions on constraints in milk production in South Gujarat region

Introduction

Dairying has been a longstanding tradition rural households, providing food, income, and employment, particularly for marginal and small farmers. India's dairy industry, bolstered by the Operation Flood project, has grown significantly, making India the world's largest milk producer. In 2022-23, India produced 759.96 MT of milk, with per capita availability at 459.63 grams per day. Dairy cooperatives have been key to this success, with regions like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Punjab contributing the most. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends an individual to consume 240 grams of milk daily for a healthy life. Gujarat surpasses this with a per capita milk availability of 670 grams per day, which is quite satisfactory. The state boasts 17 cooperative dairy milk unions and 25 private dairy plants, collecting 3.45 billion liters of milk from over 30 lakh producers associated with more than 15,000 primary milk cooperative societies. Milk production contributes 22 per cent to Gujarat's agricultural GDP and is a crucial sector for supporting livelihoods. According to state census data, out of 102 lakh households in Gujarat, 43 lakh households are engaged in dairy and animal husbandry as a primary or secondary income source. The South Gujarat region, known for its successful dairy and agriculture cooperatives, encompasses seven districts: Bharuch, The Dangs, Narmada, Navsari, Surat, Valsad and Tapi. In terms of milk production, Surat leads with 502.67 lakh kg, followed by Navsari with 357.15 lakh kg, Tapi with 331.52 lakh kg and Valsad with 279.95 lakh kg. In addition, this industry has the potential to significantly contribute to the promotion of a redistributive effect on www.extensionjournal.com income in favour of disadvantaged groups. In order to provide economic information that can be used for forecasting development operations in the dairy sector, understanding the constraints that dairy households face in the milk production is crucial. With these considerations in mind, the current study set out to determine the primary problems encountered by dairy households so that the results might be used for the improvement of the milk sector especially in South Gujarat region of Gujarat State.

Materials and Methods

Methodology outlines the study area profile, the nature and sources of data collected and the analytical tools and techniques employed to achieve the study's objectives. The selection of the study area mainly based on the highest milk production in the South Gujarat, four districts viz, Surat, Navsari, Valsad and Tapi were the significant contributors of milk production in the South Gujarat. Multistage random sampling technique was adopted for the sampling. At first satge 4 districts were selected purposively, then 2 talukas from each districts at second stage, then 2 dairy cooperatives from each selected taluka at third stage and at the last stage 20 respondents from each dairy cooperative were selected and finale sample was 320 respondents. Primary data were collected from 320 respondents with the pretested interview schedule in August to December 2023. Garrett ranking technique was employed for the identification of constrains face by dairy households in milk production.

Garrett's ranking technique

The study utilized Garrett's ranking technique, as proposed by Garrett and Woodworth in 1969, to assess the constraints hindering milk production. Respondents were requested to rank the constraints in availing inputs and services that were limiting milk production. The ranks provided by each individual for the identified factors were then transformed into scores using the following formula:

Where, R ij = Rank given for the i th factor by the j th individual. Nj = Number of factors ranked by the j th individual.

The percentage position was subsequently converted into scores using a reference table provided by Garrett and Woodworth (1969) [2] . For each factor, the scores assigned by each individual were aggregated and the total value of scores and mean values of scores were calculated. Factors with the highest mean value were considered the most significant constraints.

Results and Discussion

Dairy households face challenges in the study area were identified through observation and discussion. Dairy households have difficulties with dairy farming and operations. Dairy farming in the region had a lot of challenges. The Garret rating system was used to prioritize the constraints in order to determine their relative importance. Constraints are the things that limit or restrict to perform some action. In dairying, the constraints are social, economic and psychological, that hinders the milk producers to improve the dairying. The constraints which are faced by dairy households are classified under the following heads (1) Feeding constraints (2) Breeding constraints (3) Health constraints (4) Marketing constraints (5) Financial constraints (6) Others Constraints. The major constraints faced by dairy households in dairy farming were ranked with the help of their Garrett's mean score has been shown in Table 1.

Feeding constraints faced by dairy households

The results presented in Table 1 [3] , Narnaware et al. (2023) [4] and Virani (2023) [7] .

Breeding constraints faced by dairy households

The results presented in Table 1, showed that in breeding constraints, unavailability of Indian bulls of high genetic merit was the first and foremost constraint (with Garrett's mean score of 61.08). Infertility problem was the second important constraint perceived by dairy households (with Garrett's mean score of 51.97) and lower quality animal breed was the third important constraint (with Garrett's mean score of 46.18) and the least and fourth constraint was poor knowledge about breeding practices (with Garrett's mean score of 40.75).

Health constraints faced by dairy households

The results presented in Table 1, showed that in health constraints, poor knowledge about health care practices (with Garrett's mean score of 65.25) was ranked as the first and most important constraint in health management.

Frequently animal become sick (with Garrett's mean score of 57.69), costly veterinary and aid (with Garrett's mean score of 47.59), irregular visit of veterinary staff (with Garrett's mean score of 46.22) and higher rate of calf mortality (with Garrett's mean score of 32.22) were ranked as second, third, fourth and fifth constraints, respectively.

Marketing constraints faced by dairy households

The results presented in Table 1, revealed that in marketing constraints, low price for milk was the most important constraint (with the highest Garrett's mean score of 61.53).

Similarly, the finding was also reported by Raj (2022) [6] , Agarkar et al., (2023) [1} , Narnaware et al., (2023) [4] and Patel and Sabapara (2023) [5] . Irregular sale of milk was the least important constraint with the lowest Garrett's mean score of 32.81. While, lack of market information (with Garrett's mean score of 59.42), non-remunerative price for milk (with Garrett score of 52.66), no market for milk in the immediate viscidity (with Garrett's mean score of 50.27) and distance of dairy from dairy producers home (with Garrett's mean score of 44.40) was ranked as second, third and fourth and fifth constraints, respectively. www.extensionjournal.com [5] and Virani (2023) [7] .

Other constraints faced by dairy households

There was some other constraints face by dairy households which were not classified under the above heading, so these constraints were considered as an other constraints in milk production. The results presented in [4] , Patel and Sabapara (2023) [5] and Virani (2023) [7] .

Conclusion

According to the study's findings, the biggest problems for milk producers in the South Gujarat regions of Gujarat

References

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2. Garrett HE, Woodworth RS. Statistics in Psychology and Education. Vakils, Feffer and Simons Pvt. Ltd.; 1969:329.
3. Gayathri SL, Bhakat M, Mohanty TK. An outlook on commercial dairy farming in India: A review. Indian Journal of Animal Production and Management. 2023;37(1):45-56. https://doi.org/10.48165/ijapm.2023.37.1.6
4. Narnaware GN, Chandrakar MR, Choudhary VK, Jaiswal P. Milk producers' perceptions on constraints in milk production in Maharashtra State. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology. 2023;41(6):70-74. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJAEES/2023/v41|61922
5. Patel PC, Sabapara GP. Constraints faced by dairy farmers for adoption of improved dairy husbandry practices in Valsad district of Gujarat. Indian Journal of Animal Production and Management. 2023;37(1):7-11. https://doi.org/10.48165/ijapm.2023.37.1.10
6. Raj K. Garrett scoring technique for assessing the constraints faced by dairy farmers of Madhepura district, Bihar. Environmental Conservation Journal. 2022;23(1):335-341. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.021967-2193