Impact of Dairy Farming on Socio-Economiccondition [A Case Study of Bharatpur Municipality, Chitwan, Nepal]

Abstract

This thesis has been prepared for the fulfillment of partialrequirement of M.A in Geography. The present study attempts to explainthe impact of socio-economic condition by dairy development inBharatpur, Chitwan district. The surrounding area of 9 milk co-operatives which collect milk from the dairy farmers and bring toBharatpur chilling center is chosen for the study. Out of the total dairy-farming household,of the study area, only 10.37 percent are selected forthe detailed study. Sample size is taken from every dairy co-operative byusing the method of simple Random sampling. Dairy farming is developedas a secondaryoccupationof ruralNepalese people. It has been playing a vital role to uplift socio-economiccondition. Thisstudy, concluded that the living standard of the people ofthe area is uplifted to some extent by milk selling. The milk productionand its selling occupies about one thirdof the totalincome of the farmers.Such income has helped the rural farmers to fulfill their different needs.Most of the farmers use the dairy income in cattle feeding, veterinaryservices, andsupportingotherdomestic expenses of the farmers. Somefarmers use their income to pay school fees for their children study othershave invested such as income in fixed assets such as land and house,health etc. There are some problems is dairy sector such as lack ofinstitutional credit services, low price of milk, high price of fodder, milkholiday, insufficient veterinary/services and high price of improved breedof dairy animals. But these problems have not been hindering dairyfarming negatively through it needs some improvements. Dairy farmingand agriculture are inter-related to each other. The production of crops, 4 improved grass and other feeding materials are high in the area. Thereis further possibility of market expansion. Likewise, suitable climate androad access are other push factors, which help to further expansion ofdairy co-operative in this area. Thus, the overall scenario of socio-economic condition of dairy sector is not so good, but it is going verypositively.