Dairy farming in Sangli district: a geographical analysis

Abstract

The present study deals with the dairy activity is a subsidiary to agriculture in India. Agriculture is known as gamble in the monsoon due to inadequate and irregular rainfall. In India, where 80 per cent of the farmers are small holders, agriculture should be supplemented with the subsidiary occupation such as dairying, poultry, sheep rearing, cattle breeding etc. In those activities, dairy is leading activity and plays a vital role in the rural economy. Dairy helps to tackle the problem of unemployment. Dairy is being used as poverty eradication because it provides employment to the rural landless, small and marginal farmers with supplementary employment and regular source of income and ultimately helps them to increase the standard of living. The Sangli district is a part of Krishna Basin, divided into north-western, central and south-eastern parts. The rivers Yerala, Agrani and Krishna make the region partly irrigated. The Sahyadri ranges determine the climate of the region and fall under monsoon land. The rainfall is uncertain and hence subject to frequent famine in the region. The region has arid tracts and fallow lands which enhance the dairy activities in the region.