Assessing snowball effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Indian dairy sector

Abstract

Dairy sector experienced supply setback as well as demand uncertainties owing to restrictive measures imposed for the control of COVID-19 pandemic. The present paper attempts to assess the multi-dimensional impact of pandemic on dairying by reviewing the emerging literature. The assessment shows that availability of feed and fodder declined by 11% during the initial months of lockdown making it the most affected supply chain. The dairy farmers incurred dual losses due to increase in cost of milk production (+6%) and simultaneous fall in milk prices (–5.6%). Major challenge for the dairy processors was posed by the fall in demand which declined steeply particularly for the ice-creams and milk based beverages. The estimated loss incurred by the dairy farmers is `4,000 per milch animal in the initial 40 days of lockdown which can further rise if losses due to missed artificial insemination and change in animal prices are also taken into account. Assessment of impact on the unorganized dairy sector is still unavailable without which the loss estimation from the perspective of milk buyers stands incomplete. Huge inventories of the Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) are the immediate challenge which requires proper policy intervention for arresting further losses in the dairy sector.

Economic Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Member and Non-member Farmers of Dairy Cooperative Societies in West Bengal State, India

“…In 2020. Bhandari and Lal (2020) observed a 20-30% surge in green fodder prices during the lockdown period, a trend supported by the FAO (2020) in its global findings. Rude (2020) highlighted the double blow to dairy farmers, as elevated fodder costs coincided with reduced milk demand.…”

Parámetros reproductivos y productivos bovinos en sistemas de producción de leche durante tiempos de la COVID 19

“…Las estaciones de semen se quedaron sin existencias de semen congelado debido a la ruptura de la cadena de suministro, lo cual, aunado a la falta de disponibilidad de técnicos en IA impidió la inseminación de los animales en el momento correcto. En consecuencia, el productor debió esperar hasta el próximo estro del animal para la inseminación o recurrir al servicio de monta natural [4].…”

“…La concepción perdida o retrasada significa un doble detrimento para los productores de leche, ya que tiene que lidiar con la disminución en la producción de leche y además incurre en el costo de mantenimiento adicional hasta el próximo estro del animal (aproximadamente 21 días (d). A largo plazo, la sustitución de la IA por el servicio natural puede afectar a la economía lechera durante un período más prolongado, debido a que los animales concebidos por monta natural tienen un potencial genético menor, y se estima que las novillas nacidas de vacas concebidas naturalmente durante su vida productiva tengan una reducción de 2 litros (L) por d [4].…”

“…Por otro lado, durante la pandemia de COVID-19, los productores de leche tuvieron que soportar un aumento en el costo de los piensos y forrajes, lo que elevó el costo de la producción de leche. La escasez de alimento para el ganado y la reducción de la demanda de leche, aunado a la pérdida debido a la IA retardada, fueron problemas bastante notables y; por lo tanto, llamaron fácilmente la atención de los investigadores y los encargados de la formulación de políticas de productos lácteos [5].…”

The Socioeconomic Profile of Farmers Affected by the Covid-19 Lockdown in Chhattisgarh's Surguja District

“…Combine harvesters were not available in villages, During my study, I discovered the social and economic condition of the farmers, which is as follows maximum number of respondent belonged to middle age group of 36-50 years, majority of respondent belonged to ST, maximum of respondent had joint type of family, maximum of respondent illiterate, maximum of respondent had irrigated land, maximum numbers of to medium annual income, maximum of respondent had one occupation agricultural activities, maximum of respondent had low level source of information , Before this, many studies have been done on the economic and social condition of the farmers, but when the lock down was imposed after the arrival of Corona disease, then this information came to know about the effect on the economic and social condition of the farmers. Research students will study on this, this study will be beneficial for them, as well as the government will be able to know what was the real condition of the farmers after the covid lockdown and some appropriate steps can be taken [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”