Innovative dairy farmers in the Punjab of Pakistan
- Publication Type
- Other publication
- Authors
- Teufel,N.; Gall,C.F.
- Year of publication
- 2001
- Published in
- Proceedings
- Conference name
- Deutscher Tropentag
- Conference location
- Bonn/Germany
- Conference date
- 9.10.-11.10.2001
Before the advent of major irrigation schemes, about a century ago, husbandry of dairy animals was the dominant agricultural activity in the semi-arid river-plains of the Punjab. Irrigation enabled the establishment of intensiv crop production, providing cash income for a rapidly growing rural population. Dairy production remained subsistence orientated. However, the development of urban and industrial centres over the last decades has led to a substantial market demand for milk and dairy products, stimulating rural milk producers to increase productivity through innovation. A socio-economic study of village milk production in the central Punjab was conducted between 1997 and 1999 with special regard to innovations and future development. Data on resources, practices and objectives were collected in a cross-sectional survey covering 322 households and a 13 month longitudinal survey of 65 households. This presentation focusses on the following three questions: - Which innovations are currently being adopted by dairy farmers? - How can dairy farmers, adopting these innovations, be charaterised? - Does dairy production differ from crop production regarding the characteristics of successful innovations and their adoption? Results show that innovations aiming mainly at the reduction of animal mortality, e.g. vaccinations, have already been widely adopted. Innovations currently being adopted include the improvement of fertility, e.g. mineral mixtures, or labour productivity, e.g. motorised fodder cutters. Households introducing innovations appear to be endowed with more resources and rely more on milk production for income. Contrary to crop production, improving breed or nutrition for direct yield increases has not been attractive so far, suggesting that yield is not yet the major issue when adopting innovations.