Adoption of dairy farming technologies by small farm holders: practices and constraints

Abstract

In Bangladesh, usually, small scale farmers are not adopted to use all kinds of improved technologies in dairy farming. But, high level of technology adoption has a direct impact on milk yield and household's income generation as well as dairy development. The objectives of this study was to determine the causes of adoption and non adoption of high yielding breed, the level of practices and constraints in adopting the improved technologies. The study was carried out in three different agro-ecological zones and 180 dairy cattle farmers were interviewed. Self practiced dairy technologies were listed, adoption score for each technology and adoption index for each farmer were studied. One-fourth farmers used artificial insemination for breeding purpose and two-fifth belonged to medium or high level of technology adoption. Only 35% farmers adopted crossbred cows and some others upgraded indigenous with exotic breeds. About 17.5% rural farmers and 70% semi-urban farmers reared crossbred cows and rural farmers are reluctant to utilize all kinds of improved technologies. Secondary and higher educated farmers were 9.7 times more likely to be adopting improved technologies compared to illiterate farmers. Top ranked constraints were ill equipped and negligible services at AI centre, no provision for testing of animals, poor knowledge of farmers about health care of animals and inadequate knowledge about proper feeding and balanced ration. Need more knowledge on improved technologies through training, availability of reliable and continuous technical assistance, availability and low price of concentrate feeds, increased and timely provision of medicine, increasing AI facilities, providing pure breed and strengthening extension services were the main suggestions from farmers.

A research on determination of factors affecting the artificial insemination of dairy farms: A case study of Van province of Gevaş district

“…Suni tohumlama yaptıran ve yaptırmayan süt sığırcılığı işletmelerinde inek başına ortalama süt verimindeki fark istatistik açıdan anlamlı bulunmuştur (Çizelge 1). Yapılan benzer bir çalışmada, inek başına süt verimi suni tohumlama yaptıran ve yaptırmayan işletmelerde sırasıyla 9.2 kg, 2.3 kg olarak tespit edilmiştir (Quddus, 2012). Bu sonuçlara göre, suni tohumlama yaptıran işletmelerde inek başına ortalama süt veriminin suni tohumlama yaptırmayan işletmelere göre daha yüksek olduğu söylenebilir.…”

Review: Sustainability of crossbreeding in developing countries; definitely not like crossing a meadow…

“…In a recent survey of Bangladeshi dairy farmers, three of the four most commonly cited reasons for not adopting crossbred cattle (1. high costs of inputs, 2. high Crossbreeding in developing countries price of feeding and 3. lack of money for purchasing animals) involved the economic capacity to purchase inputs. The fourth reason was the complexity of management and the additional investment in time (Quddus, 2012). Other smallholder survey in Ethiopia and Tanzania also showed that availability of capital and access to credit facilitate the implementation of crossbreeding (Abdulai and Huffman, 2005;Mekonnen et al, 2010) by smallholders.…”

“…Generally, most of the external reasons for the sustainability of a crossbreeding program can be linked to one or all of three interdependent factors, namely, the access to adequate Crossbreeding in developing countries stock, the opportunity of improved livestock to express its genetic potential and the efficiency of the market chain. The first prerequisite for the success of a given crossbreed program is that performance of crossbred animals must match farmer expectations, which helps ensure that smallholders have the motivation to implement or maintain crossbreeding within their farm (Quddus, 2012;Roschinsky et al, 2015).…”

“…Quddus, 2012). Given the technical skills requirements and management constraints subsequent to the adoption of improved genotypes, there is a need for informing, training and providing support to farmers on the use of crossbreed animals.…”

An Investigation into the Development of a Customised Model for Successful Smallholder Dairy Farming in Gauteng

“…Investment efforts and skills required in breeding and feeding programmes aiming to increase productivity and milk yield are often too intense for smallholders. A study by Quddus [29] proved that regardless of all the advantages of technology adoption to ensure better milk yield, smallholders' ability to adapt is not labile and is directly related to a lack of education, experience, and financial status and support services. Record keeping is a key management tool that measures dairy production and health status efficiency and improvement.…”