Livelihood security is defined as securing the possession or access to income generating assets and activities, including reserves and assets, to the offsets. The study was conducted from 2018-19 to 2020-21 in Bundelkhand, which includes Uttar Pradesh (7 districts) and Madhya Pradesh (6 districts). Based on the broad literature assessment and discussion with experts, indicators were developed to measure dairy farmer livelihoods. Information was collected by personal interviews using a structured interview schedule. The survey found that the majority of smallholder farmers earn a low to moderate income. The average livelihood security index for marginal farmers was 0.55, and the average livelihood security index for middle-class farmers was 0.57. Education, land ownership, annual income, milk sales, and extension contacts had highly significant positive relationships with livelihood security.

The concept food security was born out of an appreciation of the need to comprise nutrition in food security. Unlike food, which is generally described everything that community consume and drink to sustain existence and development, nutrition adds facet of wellbeing, a vigorous atmosphere, and nurturing practices. The study was conducted in Bundelkhand from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Respondents were selected based on proportional stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected by personal interviews using a structured interview schedule. The results revealed that among marginal farmers, the majority (70.37%) of respondents had low food security, followed by medium and high food security. Regression analysis was performed on the data to confirm the R2 value, and it was found that the independent variables included in the study were cumulatively responsible for explaining 63.80 per cent of the variability in the dependent variable.

Livestock is an integral part of Indian agriculture. Livestock will continue to play a key role in farming system even in the future. The present study was conducted in Bundelkhand region during 2018-19 to 2020-21 to find out the contribution of livestock to livelihood of dairy farmers of the region. Two districts for each state selected, then, two blocks from each district were selected randomly. Two villages from each block and 20 respondents from each village were randomly selected; thus, making the total sample size of 320 respondents for the study. Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used for comparative analysis of livelihood security indicators for different category of farmers. Based on existing livelihood activities, the majority of the respondents in each category of farmer depend on farming for their livelihood followed by livestock rearing. Dominant livestock system pursued by marginal farmers was Buffalo+ Goat+ Sheep. Dominant livestock system pursued by small farmers was Buffalo+ Goat. Dominant livestock system pursued by semi-medium, medium and large farmers was cattle+ Buffalo. The results revealed that for more than 55 percent of the household’s income from livestock was the major contributor to gross income accounting for more than 50 percent of the gross income. In case of economic and social security, Small and semi-medium farmers were not significantly different, whereas, marginal, medium and large farmers were significantly different at the 5 percent level of significance. Small, semi-medium and medium farmers were not significantly different, whereas, marginal and large farmers were significantly different based on health, institutional and overall livelihood security at the 5 percent level of significance.

A livelihood encompasses the capabilities, assets (stores, resources, claims and access) and activities required for a means of living. The ex-post facto research design was used for the present study. The study was conducted during 2018-19 to 2020-21 in the Bundelkhand region of India. From each village, 20 dairy farmers were selected proportionately from the list prepared based on land holding. Thus, a total of 320 dairy farmers was selected for the study. Data were accumulated relevant to survey with the help of a structured interview schedule with the farmer of the study area. The index was developed on the basis of different indicators of livelihood security of farmers. A list of seven components was prepared by referring to different literatures. Seven components of livelihood security were selected for this study were food security, economic security, health security, educational security, social security, institutional security and infrastructural security. Livelihood Security Index for one indicator was constructed, and then the composite overall livelihood security index was calculated. The most relevant parameters among social indicator was interaction with key informants/ progressive farmers followed by the availability of a police station in the village / locality, provision for having any kind of crop insurance policy, member of any social organization and awareness about one’s right to utilize and access to government or public resources. Results obtained showed that the overall average livelihood security index value was 0.72. The livelihood security index value was very high (0.81) in food security indicator. This might be due to their assured high income from both agriculture and dairy. The average livelihood security index for economic was high i.e. 0.69. Among all, infrastructural security lied in medium level category i.e. 0.64. Whereas, average livelihood index of social security lied in medium level i.e. 0.66.