Constraints perceived by the livestock owners of district Mandi in Indigenous dairy farming

Abstract

Raising livestock is an essential component of rural communities since it helps agricultural people supplement their income. In Himachal Pradesh, the livestock industry provides a living for 19 out of every 20 families (Economic survey 2022-23). The indigenous dairy farming in the state is growing and demand-driven. The purpose of the current study was to identify the main obstacles that dairy producers of district Mandi confront while raising indigenous cattle breeds. The findings showed that the majority of respondents lacked understanding of more advanced indigenous dairy production practices. The main obstacles to indigenous cattle farming were the lack of marketing facilities for local milk and its products. These findings demonstrated the urgent requirement for developing specialized policies and strategies to maximize the potential of local breeds and address farmer concerns in order to secure the sustainability of agriculture in the area.