Analysis of Factors Affecting the Dairy Cattle Holding in Drought Prone Areas: A Study of Raichur District of Karnataka

Abstract

The dairy farming system enhances sustainable livelihood of farmers in drought prone area as it has been known as one of the activities aimed at alleviating poverty, unemployment, and nutritional related problems especially in rural areas of drought prone area. Karnataka stands next only to Rajasthan in India in terms of total geographical area prone to drought and Raichur district comes under severely affected category. Therefore, it becomes imperative to study the factors influencing holding of dairy animals in a drought prone area like Raichur district. A total of 100 dairy farmers were selected and in that 40 from unirrigated and 60 from irrigated area in the study area. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The study revealed that the relationship between cropped area and rearing of dairy animals was positive and significant in irrigated area which indicated that existence of strong crop - livestock interaction. The qualitative and quantitative improvement of crop residues assures further improvement of dairy farming. The government should lay special emphasis on supply of dry fodder particularly in unirrigated areas to ensure round the year availability at cheap rates. As off-farm income plays important role in inducing the farmers to hold dairy animals it signifies the importance of successful implementation of welfare schemes like MGNREGA which have spill-over effects like rearing of dairy animals.