A Contemporary Analysis of Smallholder Dairy Husbandry Practices in Uttar Pradesh, India: Bridging Traditional Methods and Modern Imperatives in the Farrukhabad District

Dr. Mahendra Prasad , Mritunjay Rajbhar , Raghvendra Pratap Rajbhar

Dairy Husbandry, Smallholder Farming, Livestock Management, Artificial Insemination, Uttar Pradesh, Agricultural Extension, Clean Milk Production

This paper provides a comprehensive re-evaluation of dairy husbandry practices among smallholder livestock owners in the Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh, India. While leveraging foundational survey data collected in 2018-19, this analysis situates local findings within the contemporary context of India's rapidly expanding dairy sector. The nation's milk production has surged to 239.30 million tonnes with a per capita availability of 471 grams/day in 2023-24, yet the operational realities for a majority of farmers remain rooted in traditional systems. The study reveals a significant disconnect between the adoption of modern technologies like Artificial Insemination (AI), which is universally practiced, and the persistence of traditional methods in housing, feeding, and milking. Key findings from the original survey indicate that 80.6% of animal sheds have earthen floors, 86.7% of farmers do not supplement with mineral mixtures, and 60.0% still employ the detrimental knuckling method for milking. This paper argues that these persistent practices are not merely a result of a knowledge deficit, as previously concluded, but are deeply embedded in a complex matrix of socio-economic constraints, market failures, and inadequate institutional support. The analysis identifies a paradox of high technology adoption (AI) coupled with low operational efficiency, driven by a lack of economic incentives for quality-based milk production and insufficient access to capital and comprehensive extension services. The paper concludes with strategic, evidence-based recommendations aligned with the Uttar Pradesh Dairy Policy 2022, advocating for a paradigm shift in extension services from promoting technology adoption to ensuring its effective and profitable management.

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"A Contemporary Analysis of Smallholder Dairy Husbandry Practices in Uttar Pradesh, India: Bridging Traditional Methods and Modern Imperatives in the Farrukhabad District", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.10, Issue 9, page no.b246-b259, September-2025, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2509132.pdf

Volume 10 Issue 9, September-2025

Pages : b246-b259

Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_304633

Published Paper Id: IJSDR2509132

Downloads: 000118

Research Area: Science All

Country: Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India

Published Paper PDF: https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDR2509132

Published Paper URL: https://ijsdr.org/viewpaperforall?paper=IJSDR2509132

ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016

An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.15 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator

Publisher: IJSDR(IJ Publication) Janvi Wave

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License and The Open Definition