Profitability and Disposal Patterns of Milk in the Mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh
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Author: Shubham, Shilpa, Rohit Bishist, Ravinder Sharma, and Ajit Sharma
Author Address: Research Scholar, Assistant Professor, Professor, and 5Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar, University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-17
Keywords: Dairy, disposal, marketable surplus, productivity, profitability.
JEL Codes: C21, D24, Q12, Q13.
Abstract
Dairy is considered an integral part of the rural population and contributes positively to the farm economy. The midhills of Himachal Pradesh are endowed with complex topography and varied climatic conditions. Therefore, this study would help in understanding the economics, disposal patterns, and factors affecting the production in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The respondents were selected randomly from five blocks. The study revealed that rearing local cows was not a profitable enterprise due to their low milk yield potential (2.98 kg/day). Therefore, crossbred cows rearing were found profitable because net returns from the crossbred cow were found to be highest (?8.04 per kg) and can be more remunerative by reducing the cost of feed and fodder and concentrates because feed and fodder and concentrates accounted highest share in total variable cost (70-77 per cent) among all categories. Marketable surplus and disposal patterns were calculated among the households, and it was found that the large category of farmers had the highest milk production (35.6 kg/day) due to a larger herd size and smaller family size compared to other categories. Additionally, most of the milk was sold to vendors and sweet shops (48 per cent). Hence, it is advised that rearing crossbred cattle in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh is profitable and helps farmers double their income.
Description
Indian J Econ Dev, 2025, 21(2), 394-401
https://doi.org/10.35716/IJED-24330