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The dairy sector has been poised for fierce competitiveness due to the commercialization of the dairy sector and the presence of a global market size of 893 billion dollars. It has received a new dimension with the challenge of environmental sustainability. Considering all these challenges, the present research paper studies the major growth factors and the sustainable approach to dairy development in an emerging economy like India. Fifteen major dairy-developed states of India have contributed 90% of the milk production of the country examined from 2001 to 2019. The significance of key growth factors for dairy farming and the dairy value chain is assessed. The opportunity for sustainable dairying is examined. The authors have found that the growth factors of dairy farming and dairy value chain are significant by 1% through the fixed effect (FE) model and random effect (RE) model respectively. Indian dairy farming practices and their approach create optimism about environmental sustainability. The present study has observed a series of operational activities that are conducive to the triple bottom approach. With that, this study has mentioned strategies that can steer growth momentum and support sustainable Indian dairy development in the coming times. [Display omitted] • Three key areas, namely, dairy farming, dairy value chain and environmentally friendly practices for sustainable dairy development. • Two main types of variables (internal and external growth factors) are involved in the development of the dairy farming. • Strategies are formulated to improve milk productivity. • In line with the triple bottom line approach, a series of operational activities are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the impact of microfinance in the North Eastern States of India, with a specific focus on Tripura State. Secondary information was collected from various published sources, supplemented by primary data gathered from 20 self-help groups (SHGs) selected using a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The analysis of the collected data revealed that Tripura Grameen Bank provided the highest amount of loans to the SHGs, which primarily engaged in crop enterprises, vegetable cultivation, dairy farming, goat rearing, pig farming, and fishery. On average, the amount of loan and subsidy received was Rs. 1.56 lakh and Rs. 0.82 lakh, respectively. The quantum of savings per SHG was calculated to be Rs. 1.03 lakh. Of the total credit amount, 87.35 per cent was allocated to agriculture and allied activities, leading to the establishment of various micro, medium, and small entrepreneurial initiatives, which in turn fosters the growth and development of entrepreneurship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy farming needs a strong foundation of energy security in rural India for its sustainability. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems in dairy farming act as a catalyst to ensure Green Energy Measures (GEMs) and to achieve the various missions of the Indian Government. The deployment of solar PV systems to fulfil energy needs in Indian dairy farming has several issues and barriers. In this investigation, various foremost barriers creating hindrances in deployment of PV systems in Indian dairy farms have been identified. Contextual relationships between identified barriers have been established by Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and classified using Matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC). It is used to determine the ranks and types of hindrances and to develop a structural model. The strongest driving force barriers are high initial capital cost, storage devices barrier, policy and regulatory issues, less education and weak affordability in rural and long payback periods. The strongest dependent force barriers include societal acceptance, fewer concerns about ecological and environmental issues, and a lack of entrepreneurs and innovations in the rural sector. Finally, the future roadmap to address the obstacles in exploitation of PV systems in context of dairy sector has been described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Large ruminant dairy animals (i.e., cattle and buffalo) suffer from several reproductive problems (such as abortion) that reduce ther ability to produce milk and offspring, resulting in huge economic costs to farmers; however, there are few studies in India that estimate such costs. Therefore, an attempt was made to assess the economic cost of five major reproductive problems in two of the poorest Indian states—Assam and Bihar. We estimated the cost by interviewing 534 randomly selected dairy farming households in both the states. Based on this, we found that 32.9% of dairy animals (milking, not-milking and heifer) in Assam and 43.1% dairy animals in Bihar suffered from one or more reproductive problems. The most common reproductive problem was failing to conceive after breeding (23.2% of surveyed dairy animals) followed by retained placenta (6.1%), abortion (4.9%), purulent vaginal discharge (2.9%) and stillbirths (1.0%). It was estimated that the selected reproductive problems caused an annual economic cost of Indian Rupees (INR), 3963.1 million (USD 59.0 million) in Assam, and INR 30,500.0 million (USD 453.9 million) in Bihar. The study concludes that adequate awareness, capacity building, adoption of good reproductive health management practices, proper farm record keeping and improved access to quality veterinary services are essential to address reproductive problems and reduce the cost caused by these reproductive problems. Reproductive problems in dairy animals reduce fertility, prevent conception, create problems in the delivery of healthy calves, lead to postpartum complications, increase inter-calving periods, reduce milk yield, and lower overall lifetime productivity. This study aimed at understanding the incidence of reproductive problems and the cost caused by these. The study covered 954 dairy animals in Bihar and 1348 dairy animals in Assam that were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method. The costs were calculated as the sum of income losses and expenditures incurred. The major cost incurred resulted from extended calving intervals (46.1% of the total cost), followed by loss through salvage selling (38.1%), expenditure for treatment of repeat breeders (5.9%), loss of milk production (5.3%) and expenditure for extra inseminations (2.0%). About one fifth of the selected reproductive problems were left untreated. The estimated cost of reproductive problems was Indian Rupees (INR) 2424.9 (USD 36.1) per dairy animal per year (of the total dairy animal population) which represented approximately 4.1% of the mean value loss of dairy animals (INR 58,966/USD 877) per year. Reproductive problems were significantly (p < 0.001) higher among improved (exotic breed or cross-bred) dairy animals than indigenous (native breed or nondescript indigenous) dairy animals. The study suggests that with the increase of improved dairy animal population, the loss may further increase. The study concludes that any economic estimation of reproduction problems based on aetiology without confirmatory diagnoses could be highly misleading because of the complex nature of the problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]