Research to Guide the Increase of Dairy Products to Address Nutritional Deficiencies

Abstract

Government should be keen to increase price per capital daily availability of milk from the current level. To meet the demand for milk by the increasing population, milk production needs to grow. This growth will create opportunities for small holder producers and generate technical opportunities in milk processing and marketing. To achieve optimum growth rate in dairy industry, several factors need to be addressed. These include the poor genetic base of cattle, feed shortage, wide spread infectious and production diseases and inefficiencies that lead to poor productivity. Farm owners should not overlook the economics of interventions in these factors. It is of utmost importance that there should be assessment of herd status, identification of the general areas of management where interventions are possible for profitability. Dairy is a recognized tool for poverty reduction and selfreliance. Rapid urbanization and steady income growth are the factors that incite demand for milk and milk products. Initiatives should be taken such as increasing milk production through breeding improvement health care of animals, training of farmers in various areas of animal management and giving of financial supports to farmers for dairy development. Considering the importance of nutrient supply, utmost priority should be given to fodder cultivation.