Commercial dairy farming training programme in India

The training programme comprised both classroom-based training and practical farm visits and interaction with successful dairy farmers and took place from July 7-12. Organised in collaboration with farm science centre Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Baramati, the training programme saw 43 participants from all parts of India gathered to share knowledge about new technologies on commercial dairy farms.

The study areas were as follows:

• Feed and fodder management
• Breeding concepts
• Animal health management
• Hydroponics
• Designing and planning a commercial dairy farm
• Use of software for accurate analysis
• The economics of commercial dairy farming
• Mechanisation for small and large dairy farms

Attending the programme has helped boost the confidence of the Indian dairy entrepreneurs when choosing dairy farming as a career. The positive feedback received from the successful dairy farmers created a positive image of the future of dairy farming in the country. This is especially important right now as India is set to become world’s most populated country by 2030 with around 1.53 billion. It is expected that India will need 200 MMT of milk by 2020.

The next dairy farming training programme is planned for October 9-15.