What changes were brought in dairy farming in Gujarat?how did it benefit the farmers?
Answers
india, which is well-known for its dairy products, is the largest producer of milk, second only to United States(in terms of cow milk). The country produces nearly 50 to 60 million tonnes of milk every year and currently contributes around 9.5 percent of the global milk production.
The livestock sector has emerged as a vital sector for ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable agriculture system. Evidence from the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) 70th round survey showed that more than one-fifth (23 per cent) of agricultural households with very small parcels of land (less than 0.01 hectare) reported livestock as their principal source of income. Farming households with some cattle head are better able to withstand distress due to extreme weather conditions.
Growing population, changing lifestyles, expanding urbanization and accelerated climate changes are creating new challenges in Bovine breeding systems. In the past, the challenge was to ample feed, but now it is to provide essential nutrients to promote health especially reproductive health; and in the future, the challenge would be to provide optimal nutrients based on an animal’s genetic profile and productivity. Fortunately, along with challenges, the developments in science are creating new avenues for tackling the challenges.