An insight into the prevailing healthcare, housing and other management problems faced by dairy farmers: A case from middle Gujarat

Abstract

Livestock rearing remains crucial to the livelihood of rural populations and nutritional security. Management practices affect the productivity and profitability of dairy farming. The current research was conducted in the Middle Gujarat region to determine the significant problems encountered by dairy farmers in the areas of healthcare, housing, and overall management. A sample size of 320 respondents was used from four districts: Kheda, Anand, Panchmahals, and Mahisagar. A structured interview schedule was used to collect data, and the Henry Garrett ranking was used for the study. The results revealed that the most urgent health problem was mastitis, followed by a lack of knowledge about deworming and vaccination, ecto-parasite problems, and the cost of veterinary services. The most significant issues were in the housing areas, including the high cost of construction, the lack of own capital, and high interest rates on loans. The primary management issues were low milk prices, low fat levels in milk, low productivity, poor adaptation of animals to the local environment, labour shortages and a subsequent deterioration in access to grazing land. The study highlights the necessity of specific interventions, such as training farmers in preventive healthcare, promoting low-cost housing designs, and facilitating access to institutional credit. These limitations need to be addressed to improve the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of dairy farming in the area in the long run.