Growth and instability in milk production in Maharashtra: A district and region-wise analysis

Two differing points of view emerged about the status of dairying in the state of Maharashtra. While the State showed remarkable progress in terms of overall growth in milk production over the last two decades, there were also wide inter-and intra-regional variations in growth rates during this period. The factors underlying regional imbalances in the growth of milk production could be many. Imbalances in general are associated with differences in the distribution of breedable bovine population in different regions of the State, differences in resource base with respect to feed and fodder and animal health cover, differences in terms of number of insemination in the field areas for breed improvement and thereby causing differences in genetic architecture of milch animals, and differences in the productivity of animals. The higher potentiality of milk production in the case of some of the districts and regions of Maharashtra was assessed through significant and higher rate of growth associated with higher index of instability of milk production. The ready acceptability of modern technology by the milk producers in rural settings, intensive efforts by the dairy co-operatives in providing balanced cattle feed, veterinary services and the availability of other infrastructure facilities could be considered as the other underlying forces that have transformed the status of dairying in most of the districts and regions of Maharashtra.