Dairy Farming and Organic Farming for Bio-resource Conservation and Livelihood Development in Tumkur District Karnataka State-India

Abstract

A field study was conducted during 2013–2014 in Tumkur district to study the dairy farming and organic farming for bio-resource conservation and livelihood development. Further, the objective of the study is to (1) Measure the dairy farming generates year-round employment and substantial income to sustain their livelihood in rural. (2) Soil fertility and soil organic carbon and microbial growth in the soil. Studies have shown that dairying in rural areas has positively improved the life of those engaged in this business, directly or indirectly, bringing significant socio-economic changes by providing self employment. Dairy farming generates year-round employment and substantial income to sustain their livelihood. Majority (86 %) were young age and middle-aged farmers contributing 75.67 % of milk yield to milk unions, which shows the employment opportunity provided by the dairy farming to small and marginal farmers and good source of income in turn improving the social and economic status of the rural farmers.Organic system significantly improved the organic matter (1.96) there by the soil quality and the sustainability index of the soil was maximum with organic compared to inorganic. There was improvement of soil structure, texture and microbial activity in organic farming. Highlights (a) Dairy farming has positively improved the life of those engaged in this business. (b) Dairy farming brought significant socio-economic changes by providing self employment. (c) Dairy farming has provided a year-round source of income for people. (d) Dairy farming generates year-round employment and substantial income to sustain their livelihood. (e) Organic farming increases microbial population and the organic carbon level. (f) Improvement of soil structure, texture and microbial activity in organic farming. (g) Bad effect of chemical fertilizers and pesticides were controlled in organic farming.