I am Dr. Purushottam Sharma, Principal Scientist at the Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Jhansi.
We conducted a study in Bundelkhand region (part of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh) of India and found that:
The farmers of this region had 39.06% of knowledge on improved feeding practices of dairy animals. Large and marginal farmers had more knowledge compared to other categories. The feeding-related aspects according to their descending extent of knowledge score were dry animal feeding followed by heifer feeding, lactating animal feeding, pregnant animal feeding, low cost feeding technologies (LCFT), calves, fodder and grazing. In order to improve adoption of technologies it is necessary to improve their knowledge. Knowledge had a highly significant correlation with milk production, mass media exposure and information source utilization and a significant correlation with herd size and milk consumption.
It was found that farmers of the sample area were adopting 30.66% livestock feeding practices. Large farmers had maximum extent of adoption (35.44%) and landless dairy farmers had minimum extent of adoption (25.78%) of livestock feeding practices. Adoption had a highly significant correlation with information sources and knowledge; and a significant correlation with education, milk production, milk consumption, mass media exposure. The feeding-related aspects according to their descending extent of adoption score were dry animal feeding followed by heifer feeding, lactating animal feeding, LCFT, pregnant animal feeding, calves, grazing and fodder. It is necessary to improve their adoption.
In order to improve profitability of dairying, in my view for rural advisory services for family farms, due emphasis should be given to fodder production, conservation and utilization.
Dr. Purushottam Sharma
Principal Scientist (LPM)
Div. of Social Science
Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute,
Jhansi-284003 (UP)
India
Mob-9450040585
Tel.: 0510-2730241 (o), Fax: 0510-2730833
e-mail: psharma1969 (at) gmail.com
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