Management and employment potential of small-scale dairy farming in Mymensingh

The study was conducted to interpret the socioeconomic characteristics of the dairy farmers, dairy farm management and income, impact of management activities on milk production and employment potential in dairy production. Three hundred households in three thanas of Mymensingh district were interviewed through a questionnaire. Thirty nine per cent dairy farmers were illiterate and this proportion was higher in rural areas. Ratio of dairy income to total income was higher for large farmers and in riverside area. About 52 per cent farms had single milch cow and there was 1.6 units of milk cow per dairy farm. Riverside area exhibits highest percentage of cows of local breed. Most of the cowshed were made by GI sheet and were in good conditioned. Most of the farmers do not maintain expected level of care to their milch cows. Women had significant participation in dairy milk production. Dairy farming activities of the rural people may be increased by increasing the number of dairy cows and through improving training facilities for the women and paid labourers for income generating purposes