ANITHA, A(MAJOR)JAGADEESWARA RAO, SMURALIDHAR, MLEELA KRISHNA, NARIPEDDI2019-07-092019-07-092019-01http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810113446THESESAn investigation was conducted to study the socio-economic profile, participation and decision making of farm women in dairy management practices and constraints faced by the women dairy farmers in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. In the study area majority (P≤0.01) of the women belonged to middle age group (68%), other caste (54.22%) and had primary education (36.44%). Most of them were married (95.11%), belonged to nuclear families (73.33%) and had small family size (67.11%). Agricultural farming and dairying was the major occupation (52.88%) of women in the study area. Most of the women had medium level of experience in dairying (46.66%). Only 8% of women dairy farmers had exposure to training related to dairying, 73.77% of them are members in DWCRA/SHG and only 19.55% are members in cooperative societies. Significantly (P≤0.01) majority of women dairy farmers were occasionally in contact with veterinarian (45.77%), para veterinarian (38.66%), friends and relatives (71.55%). Women under the medium farmer category were more exposed to television (50.66%), news paper (17.33%) and farm magazine (14.66%) compared to landless and small farmer category. Small farm women (587.00±81.70) obtained more income (rupees/day) through dairying followed by medium (516.34±54.35) and landless (385.66±32.39) farm women. Small farm women possessed significantly (P≤0.05) more graded Murrah buffaloes (3.68±0.28), whereas women under medium farm category possessed significantly (P≤0.05) more number of local cows (0.28±0.07), Murrah buffaloes (0.45±0.21) as well as more (P≤0.01) buffalo heifers (1.22±0.14). More number of women dairy farmers under landless category participated regularly in taking animals for AI (48%), care of pregnant animals (81.33%) and arranging materials during parturition (72%). Women from small farmer category had more participation in taking animals for pregnancy diagnosis (81.33%) and post calving care (77.33%). Only 3.55% of women in the study area were regularly calling veterinarian during dystocia. Women under landless category were more involved in regularly taking animals for grazing (45.33%), green fodder collection and feeding (68%) and feeding animals with concentrates (88%) compared to small and medium farmers. Only 12% of farm women in the study area were regularly chaffing the fodder. Feeding of animals with dry fodder regularly was more in small women dairy farmer category (89.33%) and landless (86.66%) than that in medium (56%) farm women category. Regular storage of feed and fodder was observed to be higher in landless (70.66%) and small farm women (68%). Only 3.11% of the farm women were occasionally involved in construction of animals sheds. Cleaning of animal sheds regularly was high in landless (76%) and small (69.33%) farm women than in medium (44%) farm women. Majority of women under landless category were regularly using disinfectants for cleaning of animal sheds (49.33%). Regular involvement in disposing of dung and composting of dung is high in women under landless (69.33%) and small (65.33%) farm women categories. Participation in preparation of gobar gas (4.44%) and dung cakes (8.44%) was observed to be low. Feeding of colostrum to the calves regularly is high in small (86.66%) farm women category and cleaning of calf after birth is high in landless (84%) women category. Women in landless (77.33%) and small (74.6%) farmer categories are regularly washing the animals before milking. Majority of the women were regularly milking the animals (93.77%), cleaning the milking utensils (93.77%) and boiling the milk (96.44%) in the study area. It was observed that 12% of women under medium farmer category and 8% under small farmer category are engaging labour for milking of animals. Women under small (76%) and landless (73.33%) farmer category were regularly taking care of sick animals. Participation of women regularly was low regarding vaccination and medication (10.66%), deworming of adult animals (9.77%) and purchasing veterinary medicine (6.66%) in the study area. Participation of women dairy farmers regularly in household sale of milk and milk products was observed to be high in small farmer category (32%). Significantly (P≤0.01) more number of women dairy farmers were regularly selling milk through cooperatives (78.66%) and preparing the milk products (72.44%) in the study area. The sale of milk was observed to be high in small (90.66%) and landless (85.33%) farm women categories than in medium (56%) farm women category. Involvement of women dairy farmers in money collection regularly was observed to be high in small (40%) and landless (38.66%) farmer categories. The milk production (13.25±0.80), consumption (1.48±0.06) and milk consumption by women per day (0.16±0.07) was observed to be high in medium women dairy farmers in the study area. Milk sale per day was observed to be significantly (P≤0.05) high in small farmers (14.20±1.90). Only 12.88% and 11.55% farm women in the study area were regularly participating in insurance of animals and purchase of concentrates, respectively. Women under landless category are more (57.33%) involved in taking loans from banks or cooperatives. The participation in decision making regarding insurance of animals (86.65%), culling of uneconomic animals (81.33%), construction of sheds (82.66%), purchase of roughages and feeding of animals (86.66%), breeding practices (81.33%), utility of dung (69.33%) and adoption of scientific management practices (62.66%) was more in landless women compared to small and medium farmer categories. Majority (69.33%) of women in the study area were taking self decision regarding preparation of milk products. The women in the study area had good knowledge regarding feeding of colostrum to the calves (94.22%) followed by location of manure pit (93.33%) and importance of feeding of green fodder (90.66%). Poor knowledge was observed regarding cutting of naval cord (5.77%), strip cup test to detect mastitis (2.22%) and urea treatment of paddy straw (1.77%). Shortage of green fodder was the major technical constraint perceived by women under landless (37.33%) and small farmer (32%) category. High cost of concentrate and other feeds was the major economic constraint perceived by women under landless (89.33%) and small farmer (81.33%) category. It was observed that 17.77% of the in the study area suggested for supply of fodder by government during lean period.ennullThesis