EN

Abstract

Dairy Co-operative Societies (DCS) in India are an important entity in linking smallholder livestock producers with external market. This helps smallholder producer(s) in occupational diversification and gainful income. These economically important institutions also serve social purposes. Co-operative member farmers get an opportunity to interact among themselves as well members outside their society. In semiarid regions, the nature of dependence on these institutions among communities for their livelihood becomes particularly more important. The present study appreciates behaviour of farmers to supply milk to dairy society in Panchmahal district, a semiarid region of Gujarat state, India. The relationship pattern of socioeconomic variables viz., age, education, land size and total milk production were assessed towards linkage of farmers with this particular village institution. The nature of such linkage by society with local institutions often determines technological refinement, intervention and adoption. The study did not find any significant relationship for variables like age, education and total milk production in respect to farmers approaching milk cooperative societies. However, land holding size among respondents appeared to be a significant factor towards supply of milk to societies/society. This clearly demonstrates importance of identifying and understanding variables that can influence livestock interventions through dairy societies. The developmental intermediations must take this into account for welfare of farmers in semiarid region.