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In district Kangra, although population of crossbred animals has been increased from 50,000 - 70,000 nos., but due to rearing of dairy animals unscientifically, there was poor productivity of these animals. It was due to poor health standard, infertility problems, of infestation worms, non-following of vaccination schedule, imbalanced feeding, lack of use of mineral mixture and uromol bricks feeding in lean periods. With the inception of ATMA, this issue was taken up by creating awareness regarding scientific management of dairy units in the district.
       

Intervention and process:                                                                Back toTop

                                During the first year (2001), ATMA with the help of KVK and BTTs selected four villages having more cattle population namely Natehar, Kachhiari of Kangra block, Rajiana of Nagrota Bagwan & Dohag Dehrian of Dehra block to undertake this activity. KVK Kangra and BTTs concerned organized 4 Farmers training camps regarding Dairy awareness and group formation. Thus this activity was started by forming 4 FIGs (Dairy) involving 110 farmers / women farmers. Sh. Sulesh Kumar from Natehar, Shukhjinder Jeet Bains from Kachhiari, Smt. Ayodhya Devi from Rajiana, Sh. Gurldev Singh Thakur from Dohag Dehrian, were instrumental to adopt and disseminate this intervention in other groups and earned additional income of Rs.25000-85000 per annum having 5-10 milch cattle unit.The BTTs and KVK have also conducted the exposure visit of other dairy farmers to these success story sites / other institutes and formed the dairy groups of interested farmers.
           During 2nd year, this intervention was replicated in 50 villages of Nagrota Bagwan, Kangra, Rait, Panchrukhi,Bhawarna, Nagrota Surian , Nurpur and Baijnath block.Thus covering 50 FIGs/WIGs., Sh. Ashok Mishra, Sh. Charan Dass, Sh. Swarn Singh, Sh. Amin chand, Sh. Satpal Saini, Sh. Baldev Singh were the leading dairy group leaders to adopt and further replicate this intervention in adjoining areas through farmer to farmer extension. The exposure visit of these leading group leaders were also conducted by KVK and BTTs to NDRI Karnal and Hydrabad regarding Dairy Management and milk products. The dairy keepers were also trained on the following lines on scientific dairy management     

 1). Dairy keepers were advised to incorporate mineral mixture in the feed of dairy animals @ 1-2%.
2). To prepare feed of their own at village level as far as possible by using local and cheaper ingredients and balance feed preparation were also demonstrated.
3). To feed dairy animals @ 1 Kgfeed/3 litres milk production in cows and 1 Kg per 2.5 l in buffaloes.
4). During lean period (May-June, Dec.-Jan.), they were advised to feed uromol bricks @ 1 brick per animal for 10 days.
5). They were advised to follow vaccination schedule particularly for FMD and BQHS.
6). They were advised to get their animals inseminated through AI and not through natural service.
7). They were advised to grow nutritive grasses such as setaria and hybrid napier on the bunds and the fodder trees (Beul, mulberry etc.).

 

 During  3rd year, 11 farmers training camps regarding dairy management feeding and health care were organized by BTTs with the help of KVK and SAU in other parts of different blocks of the district, and formed the dairy farmers  groups. Thus this activity was replicated on large scale  in 64 FIGs there by benefiting more than 2500 dairy keepers. Dairy keepers due to this scientific dairy management took the additional income Rs. 500-600 per animal per month.

Presently this intervention has been replicated in other adjoining area of different blocks in 70 FIGs/WIGs of the district on large scale. On the advise of ATMA(KVK and BTTs)the FIGs formed small milk societies. booth and groups to sell  their milk on higher rates locally/in near by towns. Thus  more than 3000 dairy farmers  earned an average additional income worth Rs. 6000-7000 per animal per year thus on community   basis earned an additional income of Rs.1.80 crore per annum.

Benefits                                                                                             Back toTop

Due to this scientific intervention by ATMA the help of KVK and BTTs, farmers are getting more milk yield from cows and buffaloes, that is 2-3 litres/d from HF and Crosses, 1.5 to 2.5 l/d from Jersey and cross breds and 0.7 to 1.2 l/d from buffaloes. The dairy keepers are getting an additional income Rs. 6000-7000 per milch cattle annually after effecting this intervention. Thus economic activity to the extent of Rs.1. 80 crore per year was generated from additional milk yield in 70 FIGs/WIGs (dairy), there by benefiting more than 3000 farmers in the district. Also the heifers and cows are coming in heat regularly and thus success rate of A.I. has been increased by 8-10 %. Maximum number of heifers are first time, coming in heat at the age of 15-18 months and are getting timely pregnancy.

Lesson Learned                                                                                  Back toTop

Replication Process                                                                         Back toTop

              This intervention is being replicated rapidly in whole district. Health camps and awareness camps are being organized regularly by ATMA team. Availability of mineral mixture and Uromol bricks (UMB) for regular feeding at focal points is being increased by KVK/BTTs. Efforts will also be made by ATMA and other stakeholders for further dissemination adoption of technology to dairy keepers in new areas by organizing dairy training camps, exposure visits and farmer to farmer extension to create a better impact for the intensification of this farming system.

 Case Study                                                                                        Back toTop

 Initiation:

•  Although dairy keepers were rearing milch animals yet there was a poor health, infertility problems and poor milk production. It was attributed to unscientific management, imbalanced feeding and non-adopting of vaccination schedule.

• To create awareness among the dairy keepers, awareness camps, farmers training camps, exposure visits and demonstration were conducted to educate the dairy farmers regarding scientific management, balanced feeding, supplementation with mineral mixture and adoption of vaccination schedule.

• Demonstration and on farm trials on mineral mixture, uromol bricks and balanced feeding were conducted.

• Availability of mineral mixture and uromol bricks were ensured through out the year at KVK Sale Centre and at other focal points.

• Promoted marketing of milk and its products by forming small milk societies, booths and groups for higher return.

Current Situation

•   70 FIGs (Dairy) have been formed in all 14 Blocks of district.

•    Health of all milch animals is improving, infertility problem is solving to great extent. Health of all milch animals is improving, infertility problem is solving to great extent.

•  There is increase in milk production (2-3 ltr/day in HF and its crosses, 1.5 to 2.5 ltr/day in jersey and crosses; 0.7 – 1.2 ltr/day in buffaloes).Thus dairy keepers are getting an additional income Rs. 6000-7000 per milch cattle annually.

• Thus  this economic activity to the extent of Rs.1. 80 crore per year was generated from additional milk yield in 70 FIGs/WIGs, there by benefiting more than 3000 farmers in the district.

•  Dairy keepers are adopting door to door/ local direct marketing and near by towns through small milk societies, booth and groups for getting higher rate.     At far flung areas, FIGs are preparing  milk products (cheese, khoa and Ghee) to get more profit. 

•  Availability of mineral mixture and uromol bricks to FIGs/WIGs is being ensured at University Sale Centres, KVK and BTT at different focal points.  

Future Implication                                                                            Back toTop

• More FIGs  (Dairy) would be formed to cover other areas.

• Farmers will be encouraged to prepare their own feed by using locally available ingredients.

• Feed production unit by using locally available ingredients will be established in some village focal points for the benefit of dairy keepers.

•  To promote formation of milk societies, milk booth and milk federation for sale feed mineral mixture  and uromol bricks collection and marketing of milk on participatory mode.

• Regular dairy training camps, health & clinical camps, and exposure visits and milch cattle exhibitions should be organized for strengthening of farmers groups and  intensification of farming system on sustainable basis.

• Awareness about marketing information system and direct marketing will be created among the vegetable growers through IT connectivity.