Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to analyze the constraints faced by rural women in dairy farming and to understand their socio-economic profile. The study was conducted on a sample of 154 respondents selected from the study area using appropriate sampling techniques. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Garrett ranking technique. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents belonged to the middle age group, were primarily engaged in farming and allied activities, and had a moderate level of education. Most of the respondents were from nuclear families and belonged to the marginal farmer category, indicating limited access to land and resources. The income distribution further showed that a large proportion of respondents fell under the low-income category. The Garrett ranking analysis indicated that household responsibilities were the most severe constraint faced by rural women in dairy farming, followed by high cost of feed and fodder and inadequate availability of water. Other major constraints included low price of milk offered by dairy centres, lack of training facilities, and inadequate veterinary services. Limited awareness about government schemes and lack of access to improved breeds and disease management practices were also identified as important challenges. The study concludes that rural women face multiple interrelated constraints that hinder their effective participation in dairy farming. Therefore, there is a need for targeted interventions such as capacity building programmes, improved extension services, better access to veterinary care, and enhanced awareness of government schemes. Such measures can significantly improve productivity, income, and empowerment of rural women in the dairy sector.