Socio-economic Status of Dairy Farmers in the Srinagar District of Jammu and Kashmir

Background: The dairy sector is not only a source of sustainable livelihood but is also an appropriate means of socio-economic development. The present study was conducted with the aim of studying the socio-economic status of dairy farmers in the Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Methods: Information was sought from the selected respondents (616 farmers) on basis of the interview schedule using a pre-tested questionnaire regarding their family type, size and composition, literacy level, livelihood status, occupation, housing and land holding status and livestock inventory. The study period encompassed 2013 to 2017. Result: It was observed that 75.32% dairy farmers lived in nuclear families whereas the remaining 24.68% had joint families. Based on size, 22.89, 56.49 and 20.62% farmers had small, medium and large families respectively. Average nuclear and joint family was observed to have 5.07±0.07 and 12.40±0.40 members respectively. On an average, family comprised of 2.18±0.05 adult males, 2.32±0.05 adult females, 1.16±0.05 ± male children and 0.95±0.06 female children. The overall literacy rate of the family was 66.20±1.04%. Dairy farming was the main occupation of 30.19% of the surveyed farmers while it was subsidiary for the remaining. Out of the total farmers surveyed, 62.66% had land while 37.34% farmers were landless. Livestock other than cattle kept by these dairy farmers included sheep, goat, poultry, horses, rabbits and buffaloes. The shift in literacy level from low level of family heads to medium level of overall family members and 100% schooling of children indicates improvement in social status of dairy farmers through various generations.