Pathways to adoption: Improved farming practices among dairy farmers in Kerala
Abstract
The study was undertaken in four districts of Kerala to assess the adoption of dairy technologies and the determinants of adoption of scientific dairy farming practices among farmers of Kerala. A total number of 200 dairy farmers and 90 stakeholders from research and extension domain in the study area were selected using multistage random sampling technique across four distinct regions of Kerala. To ascertain the extent of adoption of selected technologies among dairy farmers of Kerala, respondents were asked to elicit their adoption level on a three-point continuum, viz. ‘full adoption’, ‘discontinuation’ and ‘non-adoption’. Adoption Index value obtained by individual respondent were calculated. The study revealed higher extent of adoption in case of practices viz. artificial insemination, colostrum feeding, and timely vaccination; low adoptionwas observed in case of technologies like calf starter, azolla production, and silage. Factors such as age, annual income, total owned land, and risk orientation had significant influence on overall technology adoption, explaining 52.50% of the variance in adoption rates. The findings suggest that while awareness of dairy technologies is widespread, actual adoption is limited by cost considerations and availability of subsidies. To enhance technology adoption, recommendations include improving access to affordable feed and veterinary services, adjusting milk prices, and developingtargeted extension programs. Addressing these barriers and integrating farmer-specific needs into technology developmentare essential for improving productivity in the dairy sector.
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