Comparative Study of Level of Knowledge about Scientific Dairy Practices among Member and Non-member Dairy Farmers of Farmer Producer Company

Abstract

An ex post facto research design was followed to study the comparison between knowledge of scientific dairy practices among members and non-members of purposively selected, Shri Kamdhenu dairy farmer producer company (FPC). In Nagpur district from two blocks, i.e., Katol and Narkhed total of 240 dairy farmers, comprising 60 members and 60 non-members from each of the two blocks selected randomly. The study revealed that 44.16% of FPCs members were middle-aged (30–50 years), with 40.00% young (up to 30 years) and 15.84% old (above 50 years), while non-members were primarily middle-aged (55.00%). A higher percentage of members were male (71.67%) compared to non-members (81.67%), indicating lower female participation. Members had higher educational attainment, predominantly small-to-medium landholdings, belonged mostly to nuclear families, and exhibited larger herd sizes and higher annual incomes. In addition, members had greater social participation and more experience in dairy farming, contributing to better productivity and economic conditions and a medium attitude toward FPC was higher in members than in non-members. Overall knowledge of scientific dairy practices in member respondents was medium (53.33%) and high, as compared to the higher percentage of non-members (25.83%) found in the low category of knowledge.