A Study of Gujarat Dairy Sector to Suggest State Level Policy Implications

Dairying has become an important secondary source of income for more than 15 million rural families and has assumed an important role in providing employment and income generating opportunity for the most vulnerable sections of our population. For millions of small and marginal farmers as well as landless labourers, milk production provides ready cash in hand for fulfilling their daily household requirements. According to 2012 livestock census data, Gujarat had 9984 thousand cattle and 10386 thousand buffalo population. The daily milk yield per animal in the state for Cow (Crossbreed), Cow (indigenous) and Buffalo is around 9.08 kg/day, 4.19 kg/day & 5.15 kg/day respectively. The present study was conducted to evaluate the status of Small Milk Producers in Gujarat state. The study covered all districts of the state and information was collected by using a questionnaire. The important polices suggested were –Providing technical and financial support to various stakeholders to improve physical, chemical, biological and organoleptic quality of Milk and Milk products, implementing differential pricing of raw milk, Increase awareness of all stakeholders especially about the nutritious quality of milk, importance of pasteurization, the important standards of FSSAI, entrepreneurship in dairy sector, Thrust “Record Keeping” at levels of stakeholders, Promote Gender empowerment.