Prem Jose Vazhacharickal

Mahin Sharif

P. K. Dixit

Water is one of the critical factors of animal production drawn from nature. Milk production in India witnessed sharp rise through operation flood programme and retaining veritable position as the world’s largest milk producing nation. Groundwater resources account for 64 per cent of irrigation. On the other hand, groundwater table is falling due to extensive use of irrigation water. Dairying is a water intensive activity and direct water use is only a negligible portion of total water use in dairying as virtual water use is very high. In this context, present study was carried out in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts of Karnataka State with the objectives (i) To study cost of milk production and water use efficiency in milk production under different levels of groundwater exploitation (ii) To estimate the technical efficiency of milk production under different levels of groundwater exploitation (iii) To work out private and social cost of groundwater use in milk production. The study was undertaken during 2012-13 enveloping 8 villages and 240 households rearing dairy animals. Mysuru and Chamarajanagar Districts provided a good background for the undertaken study as the region represented different levels of ground water use & progressive dairy farming area. Appropriate analytical tools were employed for analysis.The study indicated variations in cost of milk production across the region and animal breeds. By and large, 60 to 70 per cent of the milk production cost was on account of feed cost and it was slightly higher in overexploited area. About 90 per cent of the total cost of milk production was shared by total variable cost. Milk production cost crossbreds was highest (₹19.38/liter) in overexploited areas and least (₹16.68/liter) in safe areas.Cost of local cow milk production was highest (₹29.51/liter) in critical and overexploited ₹ (27.58/liter) and comparatively less (₹24.04/liter) safe areas. Cost of milk production of buffalo was highest in overexploited (₹26.34/liter) and was relatively lower (22.19/liter) safe area.

Mahin Sharif

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