<i>Model fodder villages</i> and its impact on livelihood security of dairy farmers: empirical evidences from Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, Central India

The productivity of dairy animals is heavily reliant on the timely access to sufficient, high-quality fodder. This study analyzes the ex-post impact of <i>Model Fodder Villages</i> on the livelihood security of dairy farmers in Bundelkhand region of central India. The study used cross-sectional data from 437 farmers and employed the inverse-propensity-weighting regression adjustment (IPWRA) method for impact evaluation and verified the robustness of the results through matching methods. The findings show that dairy farmers in model fodder villages are 14-19% more likely to improve habitat security, 19-21% more likely to enhance economic security, and 13-16% more likely to increase food security. Our findings also indicate that factors such as age, education, household size, dependency ratio, off-farm income, adult cattle units, and access to roads, markets, credit, and training play significant roles in adopting improved fodder practices. The study's methodology provides a reliable approach to evaluating the impact of interventions that improve access to fodder and related resources, aiming to enhance the livelihoods of dairy farmers and agricultural communities.