What determines the technical efficiency of dairy farmers in Sirsa cooperative milkshed?

Abstract

For increasing milk production in the country, number of efforts has been made to improve technical knowledge of the farmer and ensure supply of inputs and services. The most predominant one is the strengthening of dairy cooperatives in the country under the project Operation Flood. The present study estimated the technical efficiency among farmers of the Sirsa dairy cooperative union in Haryana and determined factor affecting it. The study found that the technical efficiency of dairy farmers in the milkshed was considerably high for all herd size categories (> 80 per cent). It was the highest for medium herd size category (86 per cent) followed by large category (85 per cent). Among households of a herd-size category, technical efficiency was consistent and found to be uniform among the household as revealed by the lower value of standard deviation. The major determinants of technical efficiency were the age of the farmer, period of becoming member of cooperative society, fixed cost and the marketed surplus.