An analysis of utilization pattern of contractual dairy services in western Maharashtra, India

To analyze utilization pattern of contractual dairy services, the study was carried out purposively in Western Maharashtra division. The division was divided into five strata taking each district (Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli and Solapur) as stratum from the division. From each stratum, two blocks were selected purposively at first stage where integrating agencies are providing similar dairy services and from each block, three villages were selected randomly at second stage. In third stage, from each village, 6 dairy farmers engaged with dairy cooperatives and 6 dairy farmers engaged with private agencies were selected randomly, thus, total dairy farmers for study were 360. Data was collected through semi-structured interview schedule. The data after collection, compiled, tabulated and analyzed in view of the objectives of the study by using the appropriate statistical method. The study revealed that majority of dairy farmers were using curative services such as medicinal treatment and minor surgical treatment, all the productive, preventive and miscellaneous dairy services, and herd health services in case of diagnostic. The frequency of utilization of various dairy services was more in case of private dairy farmers compared to cooperative and the level of significance were tested by X2 test. The ordinal probit regression analysis revealed that the major factors affecting frequency of utilization of dairy services were experience in dairying, herd size, number of milking animals, milk production and income from dairying which were positive and significant. The other factors such as age, education, land holding and distance from veterinary hospital were found no significant in case of both dairy farmers which imply that these factors were not important to affect frequency of utilization of dairy services.