Determinants of the Dairy Technology Adoption by the Rural Milk Producers in District Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

| The adoption of dairy technology has a direct impact on the socio-economic development of rural milk producers as milk production has a significant contribution to sustainable rural livelihoods. For this purpose, the present research was conducted to determine the socio-economic factors that influence the rural milk producers in the adoption of dairy technology. A survey was carried out in district Muzaffarabad of Azad Jammu and Kashmir by selecting 8 villages purposively, based on the average number of livestock population i.e 2-3 heads per household, for dairy production. A structured and pretested interview schedule was used to collect the primary data from randomly selected 333 respondents. For analysis of data descriptive statistics and binary logistic model was used through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and STATA. Information about dairy practices was studied and percentages recorded, about 70% of the farmers were aware of artificial insemination and vaccination while at least 51% was reported about livestock management. Improved feeding was very active as 70% of farmers were well informed followed by breed status recorded by 70% of the farmers. Demographic results showed that 63% of respondents were literate with an average age of 51 years and farming experience of upto 11 years. Results from the binary logistic model indicate that number of family members, farm knowledge, accessibility of extension services, gender, credit access, farm size, farming experience, and crossbreeds’ availability had a positive association with dairy technology adoption, while age and market distance had a negative association. According to the study results, it is concluded that the adoption of technology depends on their socio-economic conditions. Hence, it is suggested that the administration should encourage a deliberate strategy in building farmers’ awareness regarding dairy technology through trainings, demonstrations, field visits, and experience sharing at different levels. The government should provide credit facilities to the farmers in consideration of their socio-economic conditions.