Approaches for enhancing productivity of smallholder dairy production in India

unknown. Dairy production in India plays an important role in improving the livelihoods of farmers with equity. The milkproduction in the country has increased by about 10 times since independence (176.35 million metric tons in2017-18), and at present accounts for about 67% of total value of output from livestock. The dairy productionsystems are complex and generally based on traditional and socio-economic considerations mainly guidedby available feed resources. The traditional feeding system mostly consists of crop by products, naturalgrasses supplemented with a little or no concentrates. The seasonal fluctuation in availability of fodderfrom natural pasture and scarcity of feed and fodder resources (both quantity and quality) primarily affectthe nutrition in animals, which results in low production and reproductive performance, slow growth rate,loss of body condition and increased susceptibility to diseases and parasites. Low production potentialof animals, non-availability of critical inputs/services in time, access to capital and markets also hamperthe dairy production. The effective utilization of the available feed and fodder resources and appropriatesupplementation of poor quality crop residue and natural pasture appears to be the necessary steps toalleviate the nutritional stress of dairy animals. An array of technologies- feed and feeding interventionshave been developed and demonstrated their potential in improving the productivity of dairy animals atfield level with varying success. However, enormous efforts are required to upscale and outscale theiradoption through different extension agencies by educating farmers on efficient management of limitedresources to ensure the long term sustainability and profitability of animal production system. This canbe achieved by the favourable policy and actions in terms of access to micro-credit, assured market andveterinary services.