Commercial Dairy Farming Enhance Rural and Urban Livelihoods
Author : Mohammad Abdur Rahman Nuri, Md. Jahangir Alam, Md. Abdullah Al Zaber, Israt Jahan Promy and Md Bashir Uddin
Abstract :
This study explored the impact of commercial dairy farms on the livelihood development in both rural and urban areas of Dhaka District, Bangladesh. The research was conducted in two selected locations: Khilgaon Thana (urban) and Keranigonj Upazila (rural), with data collected from 60 commercial dairy farms—30 from each area. Structured interviews were conducted from August to October 2019 to assess various socio-economic, production, and marketing parameters. The findings reveal that the majority of the farm owners were male, with urban owners generally older than their rural counterparts. Most farmers had primary-level education, and a significant portion managed small to medium-sized families. Urban farms averaged 8 animals, while rural farms had 12, with Friesian crosses being the predominant breed. Artificial insemination was the primary breeding method in both settings. The cost of rearing per cow per day was higher in urban areas (Tk.165) compared to rural areas (Tk.120), but returns were also higher in urban settings (Tk.330 vs. Tk.235). Despite challenges such as high feed costs, disease prevalence, and limited access to veterinary services, commercial dairy farming was found to significantly contribute to income generation, employment, and improved living standards. Marketing of milk differed notably between urban and rural farmers, with urban producers relying more on direct consumer sales and rural farmers engaging with local vendors and cooperatives. Overall, the study concludes that commercial dairy farming holds considerable promise for enhancing rural and urban livelihoods and recommends policy support, better market access, and veterinary infrastructure to sustain this growth.
Keywords :
Dairy farming, livelihood development, rural and urban areas, income generation, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
