FARMERS PERCEPTION TOWARDS CONVERTING NON-ORGANIC TO ORGANIC DAIRY FARMING – AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
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Date
42034
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Publisher
PVNR TVU
Abstract
To study the farmers’ perception towards converting non-organic to organic
dairy farming, an exploratory research design was adopted. A multistage random
sampling method was adopted to select a total of 120 dairy farmers who were selected
randomly from 12 villages @ 10 dairy farmers of 3 mandals selected randomly from the
Medak district, which was selected purposively. The data was collected personally with
the help of an interview schedule which was processed, analysed and interpreted.
The personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of dairy farmers
indicated that majority of the respondents of the study area belonged to middle age
60.00 per cent, illiterates 57.50 per cent, 68.34 per cent had dairy farming experience of
1-20 years, 78.30 per cent possessed small to marginal land holding, 74.17 per cent had
medium herd size; 70.83 per cent possessed 1-6 dairy animals. Majority 98.33 per cent
integrated their farming system, 77.50 per cent had possessed medium income of Rs.
22736-87546, Amongst sources of information, informal sources 40.00 per cent, 47.50
per cent and 55.00 per cent like family, friends/relatives/neighbours and progressive
farmers were mostly contacted, among formal sources NGO’s 45.00 per cent were
contacted followed by veterinary officials 27.50 per cent, among media television 40.00
per cent was mostly seen by the respondents, 55.00 per cent had medium level of
innovativeness, 46.66 per cent had medium level of risk orientation.
Awareness about the prospects of organic dairy farming (ODF) on health and
nutrition aspects indicated that 62.50 per cent were aware about ‘organically grown food
taste better’, 60.00 per cent ‘more nutritious’, 58.33 per cent ‘more preferred for bright
shining color’, 55.83 per cent ‘better keeping quality’, 54.16 per cent were aware that
‘organic milk contains no chemical residues and promote immunity’. Awareness on
marketing aspects revealed that 48.33 per cent were aware about ‘increased demand for
milk and milk products’. Very few respondents 11.67 per cent were aware that
‘recognition of Indian organic standards and certification system by European Union
and United States of America provides a vast potential for export to these countries’.
Awareness on production aspects of ODF indicated that 63.33 per cent were aware that
‘integration of crop and livestock will decrease the production cost as inputs can be
derived easily’, 49.17 per cent had awareness that ‘ODF is a holistic approach which
optimally utilizes locally available resources’.
Awareness on limitations of ODF indicated that 51.67 per cent of the
respondents were aware that ‘non-usage of medicines leads to increased incidence of
diseases’. More than two-thirds 71.67 per cent of the respondents were aware about
‘lack of government support for organic market development’, 53.33 per cent
‘marketing and distribution chain for organic products is relatively inefficient’ and 52.50
per cent ‘ODF maintenance cost per cow is more’. Majority 80.83 per cent of
respondents were aware that ‘certification of organic farm is primarily based on
documentation while most of the farmers are illiterates’
On comparison of the dairy farming practices followed by the farmers with
organic production standards, 88.33 per cent of respondents provided ‘ample access to
fresh water’, 81.67 per cent obtain ‘more than 50 percent of feed from on farm’, 80.83
per cent provided ‘sufficient fresh air and natural daylight to the animals’, 80.00 per cent
provided ‘enough lying and resting area’, 75.83 per cent had chosen ‘breeds adapted to
local conditions’, 72.50 per cent provided ‘prompt and adequate treatment to sick and
injured animals’, 62.50 per cent carried out ‘reproduction naturally’ and 60.00 per cent
respondents ‘vaccinated their animals’. Organic standards of not using hormones except
for the treatment of individual animals was followed by 96.67 per cent of farmers, ‘nonusage
of synthetic products’ followed by 95.83 per cent of farmers, ‘mutilations are not
allowed’ was followed by 93.33 per cent, ‘high technological methods were not
followed by 90.00 per cent of farmers. Almost all the farmers did not provided
‘organically certified feed’.
Nearly two-thirds 60.00 per cent of the respondents showed medium perception
towards converting to organic dairy farming. Perception on animal health care revealed
that 44.17 per cent of farmers agreed that ‘usage of hormones and antibiotics causes
increased milk production which discourages farmers to go for ODF’, while
disagreement was shown on ‘non-usage of regular deworming and periodical
vaccination makes animal more susceptible for diseases’ by 41.67 per cent of
respondents. Perception on dairy farming practices revealed that majority 62.50 per cent
of the farmers ‘being unaware that most of the practices they follow are organic by
nature’, 54.17 per cent ‘more holding area per animal discourages conversion to ODF’.
Perception on ecosystem revealed that more than half of respondents agreed that ‘it is
difficult to change every component of ecological cycle like land, water, air,
instruments, human beings which act as a source of contamination’. Government
support was perceived as 55.83 per cent agreed that for ‘organic farming (OF) local
breeds perform better, Govt. should take efforts to improve them, than to import exotic
breeds’, 50.00 per cent agreed that ‘village level institutions should be involved to
encourage ODF’. Perception on economic viability indicated 60.00 per cent agreed that
‘lack of proper infrastructure for distribution of produce’ and 55.00 per cent ‘cost of
ODF is more due to its labor intensive nature’. Perception on suitability was observed
as 55.00 per cent of respondents agreed that ‘ODF suits big farmers and is not
practiceable for small and marginal farmers’, 50.00 per cent ‘it is easy to adopt ODF in
terms of inputs and marketing of produce in semi-urban places’ and 55.83 per cent of
the respondents was agreed that ‘a duly constituted certification body of authority must
certify the organic production and processing of milk without fees and charges’.
Constraints faced by the dairy farmers in conversion to organic dairy farming
were; ‘non-existence of an adequate extension support to dairy farmers in converting to
ODF’, ‘lack of knowledge about conversion plan details’, ‘lack of knowledge about the
maintenance of records’ and ‘stakeholders are not aware of certification norms’ were
ranked as I, II, III and IV respectively.
Suggestions to overcome constraints faced by the respondents were ranked
according to their response and highest rank was allotted to ‘providing incentives in the
form of natural inputs like fodder, proper guidance and regular monitoring’, II and III
ranks were given to ‘complete integrated farming system’s package of practices should
be developed and promoted’ and ‘promoting ODF with integrated farming system to
reduce cost of cultivation’ respectively.
Description
Keywords
economic systems, dairy farms, biological phenomena, productivity, livestock, alternative agriculture, marketing, animal husbandry, markets, land resources