Vol. 13, Issue 6 (2024)

Author(s):
E Sumer, G Kalita, R Goswami, S Rahman, FA Ahmed, JK Chaudhary and S Pakyntein

Abstract:
A study on the economics of dairy farming was conducted in Khasi and Jaintia hill districts of Meghalaya. The present study was attempted to record the economic status of the dairy farmers. Data was collected randomly from 120 dairy farmers from two districts, Khasi hill (60 farmers) and Jaintia hill (60 farmers) with the help of pre-developed interview schedule. The data collected were cost of milk production which include fixed cost, depreciation cost, variable cost, feed and fodder cost, veterinary and miscellaneous cost and the return of milk production like sale of milk, animal and dung. The annual overall total costs for all categories of farmers were ₹152867.70. The overall fixed cost per SAU per year was found to be 30.83 per cent of the gross cost and feed and fodder cost was found to be 48.83 per cent of the gross cost. The net return per litre of milk production has been worked out to be Rs 19.91, the highest was for medium herd farmers (Rs 21.20) and lowest for large herd farmers (Rs 14.27). The overall labour cost was 10.66 per cent of the total cost, per litre of milk cost was ₹62.50 and the total return for all categories of farmers per litre of milk was ₹19.91. The study concluded that medium herd dairy farmers have a better net returns compare to small and large hard dairy farmers.