Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Naresha N

Abstract:
A study on the socioeconomic profiles of dairy farmers was conducted in Chittoor and Vishakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh. Dairy farming affects farmers' social and economic well-being. The present study also explores the milk production and milk utilization pattern. The sample households were 4.82 members, with 73.41% adult and 26.59% children. Only 7.50 percent of the household heads had completed higher secondary education, 30% had only completed primary school, and 15% were illiterate. Dairy was the most common occupation among the sample households (46.25%), followed by farming (38.75%). The average operational land holding was 3.94 acres and 1.12 acres of that was planted as fodder crops. When compared to buffaloes and local cows, cross-bred cows are more prevalent in the study area. The overall average milk yield was found to be highest in crossbred cows (10.76 lit/day), followed by buffaloes (8.50 lit/day), and indigenous cows (5.84lit/day). The most milk was consumed on farms in the form of liquid milk (61.72%), and rest is converted to curd (25.40%), and ghee (12.88%) respectively.