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Milk production dynamics and the animal feed situation in the Jhikhu Khola watershed
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2000 |
| Authors | Shrestha, B, |
| Journal Title | The people and resource dynamics project: the first three years (1996-1999). Proceedings of a Workshop held in Baoshan, Yunnan Province, China, March 2-5, 1999 |
| Pagination | 85-100 |
| Key Words | buffalo milk; conferences; farmers; '; attitudes; feeds; female; labour; fodder; forest resources; forests; income; livestock; feeding; milk marketing; milk processing; milk production; milk; supply; production possibilities; surveys; trends; watersheds; |
| Abstract | Results are reported of a study conducted in 1998 which was designed to examine the positive and negative aspects of the increasing milk production in the Jhiku Khola watershed, Nepal, and to determine possible benefits and consequences for forestry and agriculture. The specific aims of the study were to: (1) determine the milk dynamics in the watershed with an emphasis on the rate of change in milk production and milk marketing over the past five years; (2) document milk production and sources and supplies of feed; (3) examine the income obtained from the milk trade, women's workload dynamics, feed demands from forests, and feed use from arable lands; and (4) evaluate farmers' perceptions regarding milk production, and identify the causes, coping strategies, and possible opportunities. All the animals were stall fed. The majority of winter feed derived from crop residues, while the majority of summer feed was fresh grass. There was a shortage of crop residues from April to July in the spring and early monsoon, and of grass between October and May. Women generally had sole responsibility for collecting grass from agricultural and forested land. Men more commonly collected fodder from fodder trees on private land, and were mainly responsible for the transportation of milk to the cooperative centres. Farmers purchased water buffaloes in order to make money by selling milk, but they felt that they were not able to benefit sufficiently from this activity. They had great difficulty maintaining the buffaloes as they require special treatment and care throughout the day. At present the chilling centre accepts only 75% of what the farmers are producing for sale. This new system is creating hardship for many farmers because the surplus exceeds home consumption needs, and there are limited possibilities for processing the excess milk. Suggestions have been made that the milk be processed into other products, but at present this does not appear to be viable because of the lack of fuelwood, poor infrastructure, poor transportation network, and poor market access. |
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