Adoption of Improved Dairy Production Practices by Dairy and Non-Dairy Farmers' Groups
Adoption of Improved Dairy Production Practices by Dairy and Non-Dairy Farmers' Groups
Adoption of Improved Dairy Production Practices by Dairy and Non-Dairy Farmers' Groups
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Lokey Thapa
National Dairy Research & Development Centre, Yusipang
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National Dairy Research and Development Center, Department of Livestock, MoAF, Yusipang, Thimphu, Bhutan
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1. INTRODUCTION
Livestock production makes a significant contribution to economic development, rural livelihoods, poverty alleviation and
meeting the demand for animal protein in developing countries. In South and East Asia, smallholder dairying has become
a good income-earning occupation for crop farmers in mixed farming systems. In a small Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan,
dairy farming is a traditional source of milk, draught power and manure.
Dairy development in Bhutan started in the early 1960s. Several projects and programs were initiated to improve dairy
production, resulting in formation of dairy farmers’ groups [DFG] across the country. The Royal Government of Bhutan
continues to invest in crossbreeding programs, extension services, animal health care, prevention and control of animal
diseases. Dairy farmers are provided subsidy for cattle purchase and shed construction with an aim to encourage them to
upgrade from subsistence to market-oriented dairy enterprises. In developing countries, the modern animal breeding,
feeding and animal health technologies are promoted to transform subsistence into market-oriented dairy farming [Duncan
et al. 2013]. To increase production, it is essential to adopt modern dairy technologies and farming practices such as rearing
improved breeds of dairy cattle, cross breeding animals through Artificial Insemination [AI] and use of superior breeding
bulls, better housing to animals, improved feeding and animal health care. Adoption of new technologies, enhanced
production performance of dairy cattle, and reduced cost of production have led to substantial gains in farmers’ income
(Challa, 2013). Adoption of dairy technologies improves livelihoods of farmers through higher yields, better household
income, improved nutrition and availability of animal protein [Kebebe et al. 2017].
Most Bhutanese farmers are less aware of scientific animal management and improved dairy farming practices.
Aulukh and Singh [2005] reported that in Asia, there is lack of awareness on economic aspect of milk production, due to
majority of dairy farmers being smallholders and illiterate following traditional dairy farming. In traditional dairy farming,
farmers rear local cattle breed as it is easy to manage and are resistant to diseases, despite its low productivity. Although
many improved technologies were developed in the field of dairy sector, there has been little success in bringing desired
socio-economic changes in dairy farmers [Kumar et al. 2011]. In Bhutan, the farmers’ non-adoption of dairy technologies
presents a formidable challenge in dairy development. It has resulted in poor production practices, making the dairy
Thapa et al. [2019] 14
Bhutan Journal of Animal Science 2019, 3 [1]: 14-21
enterprise less profitable. As the world moves towards intensive dairy production systems, it is crucial that modern
technologies are adopted to enhance production and contribute to food sufficiency and security. However, despite
production being less impressive across the country, no major efforts are made to address this challenge. Thus, it is
essential to initiate a study to generate baseline information on adoption of dairy technologies and understand issues
hindering technology adoption by Bhutanese dairy farmers. The study findings could highlight some areas needing special
attention and government interventions. Therefore, a study was conducted with the objectives to, understand the
knowledge on existing dairy technology between the members of Dairy Farmers Group [DFG] and non-Dairy Farmers
Group [non-DFG], and identify factors affecting dairy technology adoption.
60 50
DFG Male
Non DFG 45
Female
50
40
Respondent number
35
Number of respondents
40
30
30 25
20
20
15
10
10
5
0 0
Young age Middle age Old age Young age Middle age Old age
Figure 2: Age of the respondent between DFG and non DFG and between Male and female.
More than 80 percent of DFG respondents interviewed received training on dairy management and feeding, compared to
18 percent by non-DFG respondents [Table 1]. More than 58 percent of DFG members had one to three acres of land,
which included both agricultural and pasture lands. Table 1 shows that more than 66 percent of DFGs respondents
practiced tethering and feeding crop residues and concentrates, followed by stall feeding. In contrast, 33 percent of non-
DFG respondents practiced tethering and feeding crop residues and concentrates, followed by free grazing and migration.
About 37 percent of information on improved dairy technology was received from livestock staffs, followed by family
and friends with 30 percent and radio and television 24 percent. Discussion of information at different level will have
positive impact on knowledge of dairy farmers to improve dairy farming activities as suggested by Sharma et al. [2007].
40
35 20
Number of farmers
30
15
25
20 10
15
5
10
5
0
DFG Non DFG Non DFG Non
0 DFG DFG DFG
less than 1 1 - 3 acre 3 - 5 acre more than
acre 5 acre Haa Sarpang Tsirang
Figure 3: Education level and land holding of the respondent between DFG and non DFG members.
Table 3: Comparison of DFG members and non DFG respondents on dairy husbandry practices.
DFG [n =97] Non DFG [n= 70] p
Parameter Frequency % Frequency % Value
Wash hand before milking 96 96.77 70 100.00 0.581
Wash udder before milking 97 100.00 70 100.00 ns
Wash dairy shed regularly 66 96.77 22 31.43 0.000
Clean milking animals regularly 25 28.90 10 14.08 0.018
Let the calf take milk for milk let own 97 100.00 65 92.86 0.012
Overall technology adoption 387 84.48 237 67.67
Table 4: Adoption level on cattle shed of DFG and non DFG respondents.
DFG [n =97] Non DFG [n= 70] p
Parameter Frequency % Frequency % Value
Cattle shed receive enough sunlight 86 88.65 43 61.42 0.000
Have improved cattle shed 80 82.47 27 38.57 0.000
Water tap near the shed 82 84.53 29 41.42 0.000
Cattle shed have enough ventilation 83 85.56 37 52.85 0.000
Cattle shed have concrete floor 68 70.10 19 27.14 0.000
Overall technology adoption 399 82.25 155 44.28
3.6 Factors affecting Table 6: Comparison of DFG members and non DFG respondents on health care practices.
technology adoption by
Parameters DFG [n =97] Non DFG [n= 70] p
DFG and Non-DFG
farmers Frequency % Frequency % Value
Findings from the study Vaccinate cow against notifiable disease 96 98.97 70 100.0 NS
indicated that, over 95 Know zoonotic disease 36 37.11 12 17.14 0.006
percent of DFG and Encountered incidence of disease outbreak 71 73.20 54 77.14 NS
non-DFG members had Prompt reporting of disease outbreaks 97 100.00 65 92.86 0.074
problem with the Isolation of sick animals 95 97.94 66 94.29 NS
availability of pasture to Disease control and eradication program 73 75.26 40 57.14 NS
feed their animals Avail animal health extension services 87 89.69 55 78.57 NS
[Table 7]. The main Practice deworming of animals 48 49.48 22 31.43 NS
problem with pasture is Give extra care when sick 82 85.42 48 68.57 NS
lack of irrigation, less Avail service for Disease surveillance 91 83.49 66 0.029
land and very cold 94.29
weather in some selected study areas. Other important hindering factors for technology adoption were unavailability of
people/labour working in the farms, lack of training and awareness. Old and illiterate people work in the field, which could
have contributed to low technology adoption. Majority of dairy farmers still live in remote villages and the improved dairy
technology adoption has not taken place due to poor network facility. There was a significance difference in the dairy
technology adoption between DFG and non DFG members [p<0.05], which suggests that more attention should be given
to farmers of non-DFG members.
Acknowledgements
The authors are highly grateful to the Dzongkhag Livestock Officers of Haa, Sarpang and Tsirang Dzongkhags for their
assistance rendered during the data collection. The authors would also like to thank all Geog staff and farmers for sparing
their time to accompany the study team and providing useful information.
REFERENCES
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Dairy Science: 431- 434.
Aulukh GS and Singh R [2015]. Socio-economic characteristics of farmers and status of buffalo health care practices.
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 85[12]: 1396–1398.
Challa M [2013]. Determining Factors and Impacts of Modern Agricultural Technology Adoption in West Wollega. GRIN
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Duncan AJ, Teufel N, Mekonnen K, Singh VK, Bitew A and Gebremedhin B [2013]. Dairy intensification in developing
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