An effective extension approach for improving milk production of Jafarabadi buffalo by dissemination of technological interventions under Farmers FIRST Project

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted on 50 Jafarabadi buffalo at four selected villages viz. Mavjinjava, Hadala, Deri Pipaliya and Nava Vaghaniya of Bagasara Taluka of Amreli district (Gujarat) during 2017-18 to 2019-20 under the Farmers FIRST Programme. Fifty Jafarabadi buffalo having mixed parity kept by small and marginal farmers at four selected villages were assigned treatment. Milk yield of the same buffaloes before commencement of the experiment was considered as control. Experiment group of buffaloes were supplemented with commercially available mineral mixture @ 40 g/day, calcium supplement @ 50 ml/day and deworming at 3 months interval. All buffaloes were fed seasonal Jowar, maize and lucerne as green fodder and groundnut haulm, Jowar hay and dry grass as dry fodder. Concentrate mixture were fed to advanced pregnant and lactating buffaloes only. Daily milk yield data were collected on monthly interval. Average daily milk yield of control and treatment group were 7.13 and 8.16 litres, respectively. Milk yield was significantly increased under technological intervention and recorded 14.40% more over the farmer's practice. Economic analysis of intervening technology revealed that additional gross return of Rs.47.60/buffalo/day incurred in treatment group as compared to the control. Farmers were benefitted by getting additional net return of Rs.37.11/buffalo/day and Rs. 11133/buffalo/year with BCR 1.28. Farmers’ feedbacks revealed that the technology is feasible and adoptable. Impact survey indicated that the technologies have been spread horizontally to non-adopted farmers to increase milk yield and income of buffalo owners. This has definitely helped in socio-economic empowerment of the farmers.