PROFILE OF FARM WOMEN INVOLVED IN DAIRY OCCUPATION AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS TO OVERCOME THE CONSTRAINTS

Farm women play a vital role in agricultural production and rural development, contributing significantly to both on-farm and off-farm activities. The present study was conducted in Bharuch district. Among each district two talukas Jambusar and Jhagadia were selected. From each taluka, six villages were selected and from each village 10 respondents were selected. Thus, total 120 respondents were selected. The study was aimed to highlight the profile of farm women involved in dairy occupation and to find out the constraints faced by farm women and seek their suggestions to overcome the constraints. The present study revealed that more than half of the respondents were in middle age group and were participating in dairy and agriculture occupation. Less than half of the respondents were having higher school education, membership in more than one organization, semi medium size of land holding and high level of knowledge about dairy occupation. Majority of respondents were having annual income above ₹ 1, 00,000, medium herd size, medium mass media exposure and medium level risk orientation. More than one third of the respondents were found in large size family group. Three variables namely age, occupation and herd size were accounting influences on the participation of farm women in dairy occupation. Major constraints faced by farm women were as milk rate is not proper followed by high cost of animal feed and concentrate and preparation of milk product is uneconomic. Major suggestions given were animal feed and concentrate should be available in the market at reasonable rate followed by government should give subsidy for preparation of milk product and milk rate should be remunerative.