Perceptions of Dairy Farmers of Gadag district in northwestern part of Karnataka state, India regarding Clean Milk Production

Clean milk production is one important aspect in enhancing the quality of milk. It is important to know farmers\\\\\\\' perception about it. With this view, present study was undertaken with the objective of understanding perception of dairy farmers about clean milk production. The study was conducted in six villages of Gadag district of Karnataka state. A total of 180 respondents were interviewed. Perceptions of the farmers regarding family manpower involved in dairy farming, personnel involved in milking, dairy income, intention to produce clean milk, price dependence for following clean milk production, reasons for following cleanliness measures in milk production, sale price received for milk and satisfaction for the price they received for milk were studied. Most of the dairy farmers expressed their willingness to follow clean milk production measures. Further, most of them were ready to follow such measures even if they were not paid more price for milk. Farmers practiced clean milk production measures mainly to follow regulations at the dairy co-operative society followed by to avoid spoilage of milk. Dairy farmers largely neglected impact of cleanliness on animals\\\\\\\' udder and health, about milk contamination causing health hazards. Milking was mainly a domain of women. For over 80 % farmers, dairy farming provided a moderate income as portion of their total family income. Majority of the producers were not satisfied with price they were getting for milk. Hence, the study recommends, requisite facilities and guidelines from the agencies concerned are needed to be provided to the dairy farmers to adopt clean milk production practices. Proper education to the farmers regarding importance of clean milk production from health, marketing and animal health point of views needs to be given. There is need to give more importance to women in dairy farmers\\\\\\\' trainings. The study also suggests offering satisfactory price for milk to hasten the process of adoption of clean milk production practices by the dairy farmers.


Introduction
In this context, clean milk production is one important aspect in enhancing the quality of milk.Like Dairying forms a major component of livestock in adoption of any other innovation, adoption of clean sector in India.India being the highest producer of milk production also has to undergo different steps in milk in the world has great potentiality to tap of the innovation decision process.First step in this is emerging global marketing opportunities.There is a awareness of the farmer about the practice.It is also lot of potential in India to increase milk production.
important to know his perception about it.Keeping in No doubt, India has made rapid strides in enhancing view this point, this study was undertaken with the the quantity of milk produced.But, it is lagging behind objective of understanding perception of dairy farmers with regard to quality.
about clean milk production.Major constituents for milk production in dairy industry in India are small, and marginal farmers and Material and Methods unit of production is small (Khatkar, 2007).Further, The study was undertaken in six villages of dairying is considered as a subsidiary occupation to Gadag district in northwestern part of Karnataka state.our farmers.Limited access to mass media and The study was conducted by survey method.From illiteracy among our farmers are the main causes of each village, 30 dairy farmers were selected.Dairy ignorance regarding the quality norms and the farmers were selected through stratified random advantages in producing quality milk.There by the sampling.First, dairy farmers were classified into low Indian dairy industry is in a highly disadvantaged producing (producing less than 2 liters of milk per position in milk market.There is urgent need to day), medium producing (producing 2-5 liters) and educate millions of milk producers to improve the quality of milk and milk products.
high producing (producing more than 5 liters) categories.This stratification was made to represent provided a moderate income as portion of their total family income.It strengthens the argument that dairy all categories of diary farmers.Within each of these farming is still not a specialized activity for a large categories, 10 farmers were selected randomly.So, in number of farmers in our country.It is undertaken all there were 180 respondents.Information was largely as a component system of crop-livestock collected with the help of a structured interview system.schedule.Perceptions of the farmers regarding family Table 1 indicates, milking was mainly a domain manpower involved in dairy farming, personnel involved in milking, dairy income, intention to of women.Similar findings were observed by produce clean milk, price dependence for following Dieckmann (1994).In some families, both men and clean milk production, reasons for following women milked the animals depending upon the cleanliness measures in milk production, sale price convenience.In some instances, laborers were received for milk and satisfaction for the price they milking the animals.However, in many training received for milk were studied.
programmes to the dairy farmers, majority of the farmers will be men.However, when it comes to clean

Results and Discussion
milk production, women are needed to be given more Distribution of the respondents in these three importance in training.main categories according to perceptions of dairy Most of the dairy farmers (97.78 %) expressed farmers regarding milk production is presented in their willingness to follow clean milk production table 1.
measures.Further, these farmers were ready to follow Family man power involved in dairy farming such measures even if they were not paid more price was predominantly medium to high.In a very few for milk.No doubt, price is an important factor in instances, it was low.It means, dairy farming is still at stimulating the farmers to adopt clean milk production the stage where, it is able to provide employment and measures.However, it does not seem to be the single income to the farmers.It is not a large scale determining factor.But, provided the requisite commercial dairy farming unlike in other developed facilities and guidelines from the agencies concerned, countries.For over 80 % farmers, dairy farming farmers were more likely to adopt clean milk