Objectives of village milk production in the Punjab of Pakistan
- Publikations-Art
- Weitere Veröffentlichung
- Autoren
- Teufel,N.; Gall,C.F.
- Erscheinungsjahr
- 2000
- Veröffentlicht in
- Proceedings
- Serie/Bezeichnung
- 4th
- Tagungsname
- European Symposium on European Farming and Rural Systems research and Extension into the Next Millenium
- Tagungsort
- Volos/Greece
- Tagungsdatum
- 3.4.-7.4.2000
Milk buffaloes and dairy cattle have been the mainstay of animal production in the Punjab of Pakistan for centuries. Although large numbers of dairy animals were being kept, milk was produced for home consumption. Only 25 years ago, milk was practically not sold at all. Since then, a growing population in urban centres, increased per capita income and improved infrastructure have opened considerable markets for milk producers in rural areas. By now the sale of milk is the norm. The current study investigates the current situation of milk production with buffaloes. Based on this production data, an analysis of objectives and economics of milk production provides information on farmers' decisions about adopting proposed improved production practices. Data were collected in two surveys in the central region of irrigated Punjab during 1997 to 1999: Firstly, a cross-sectional survey of 322 milk-producing households was conducted, covering resources, resource utilisation and objectives. Secondly, 68 households were included in a longitudinal survey over 13 months on milk production with buffaloes and cattle. The results show that the sale of milk has become a major source of household income. This coincides with the most important objective of keeping dairy animals as expressed by the farmers: The sale of milk has replaced satisfying household milk requirements as the primary aim of production. However, the willingness to intensify the current milk production practices, for instance by increasing concentrate feeding, is limited. Only improvements reducing the risk of animal losses, such as vaccinations, have been introduced successfully. This illustrates how despite changes in the economic conditions, the management of dairy animals is still governed by a subsistence orientation. Only if this is understood and taken into account, future attempts of promoting technical improvements for the development of rural dairy production can be successful.