A study on socio - economic profile and constraints faced by the buffalo milk producers in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

An investigation was carried out to study the socio – economic profile and constraints faced by thebuffalo  milk producers in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It was observed that majority of milk producers belonged  to middle age (31- 55 years) group followed by old (above 55 years) and young age (upto 30 years) groups  in small farmers, commercial and landless milk producers. Most of the commercial milk producers and  small farmers belonged to open category (kamma / kapu / reddy caste )followed by backward caste and  scheduled caste. Majority of buffalo milk producers were literate ranging from primary to graduation level  of education. Majority of milk producers in small farmer category had agriculture as main occupation and  dairying as subsidiary occupation. Landless milk producers had agriculture labour as main occupation and  dairying as subsidiary occupation, whereas, commercial milk producers had dairying as main occupation.  Majority of commercial milk producers had more extension contact and mass media exposure as compared  to small farmers and landless milk producers.High cost of pure bred buffaloes, feed ingredients, non remunerative price for milk, feed and fodder shortage and high incidence of repeat breeding in buffaloes  were found to be major constraints felt by the milk producers in the study area. Problem of silent heat,  repeat breeding, lack of sufficient knowledge to the farmers about scientific feeding and management and  inadequate facilities for diagnostic purpose were observed to be constraints felt by the field veterinarians  in Guntur district.