Dairy Service Delivery Systems in Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu: An Exploratory Sudy

Despite India's position as the world's largest milk producer, the efficiency of dairy service delivery system is vital for animal health, breeding, feed supply and training needs. Recognizing this, the present study entitled "Dairy Service Delivery Systems in Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu - An Exploratory Study" sought to investigate the functioning, effectiveness and constraints of these systems from the perspective of dairy farmers. Service providers included public departments, dairy cooperatives, private dairies, veterinarians, educational institutions, and commercial agencies. Health care and artificial insemination services were the most availed. Public departments were perceived as effective in providing health, AI and insurance services; and cooperatives in supplying fodder seeds, credit and training. The major constraint was non-remunerative milk prices, followed by irregular supply of inputs, limited awareness of insurance, and lack of timely veterinary support. The study emphasizes the need for greater coordination between public, cooperative, and private actors, improved input delivery, and fair milk pricing mechanisms.