AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD DAIRY REARING AT SOME SELECTED AREAS IN FATIKCHARI UPAZILA UNDER CHITTAGONG DISTRICT

Abstract

The study was designed to investigate the socioeconomic characteristics of dairy farm owners and to assess the farm profitability of house hold dairying practices at some selected areas in Fatikchari upazila under Chittagong District. The focus of the present study was to quantify the cost, returns and net profitability per cow per lactation yield. The study was conducted in Chittagong district. In total, 30 farm families were randomly selected and determined per cow per year costs, returns and profitability of dairying practices. Primary data were collected from the selected farmers by interview method. Tabular and functional analyses were done to achieve the specific objectives. The study revealed that the selected farmers were relatively in age group of 30-40 years mostly with primary educated and occupied in agriculture. The rice bran as feed, labour and veterinary expenses significantly contributed in cattle rearing and the increasing returns to scale were observed. The per day total cost of raising a local dairy cow was estimated at Tk. 139.15. Feed cost was the largest single cost item of raising dairy cows. Feed cost constituted about 41.72 percent of total costs for dairy cows. Though the labour cost percent is 50.31 bt it is supplied by family, so after labour cost feed cost is the main cost. The average milk yield per day per cow was found 2.25 litres. The total returns per day were estimated at Tk 153 for a dairy cow. The value of milk production represented 97.72 percent of total returns. The respective net returns over variable cost per day were estimated at Tk 95.45. Per day Undiscounted BCR for dairy cow in the study area was found 2.64 over cash cost and 1.10 over total cost. The study also identified some problems and major constraints as reported by farmers which were: scarcity of feed and fodder, inadequate veterinary services, lack of extension services, lack of pure improved breed and artificial insemination, distant of artificial insemination center, lack of suitable marketing facilities, complex terms and condition for institutional credit. Finally, based on the findings of the study, some policy recommendations were made for the development of rural household cross-bred dairying practices sustainable and profitable in Bangladesh.