Rural Stories
May 11th, 2024 Chandpur, a small village near Palampur, is home to a community connected to their livestock. Recently, interns from the Veterinary College visited to learn more about how animals are cared for here. Mainly Dairy Cows: Most families in Chandpur raise dairy cows. Each family typically has one or two cows, producing about 3 … Read more
May 18th, 2024 Introduction As part of my ongoing field-based research project activities, I recently visited 28 dairy-rearing households in the villages of Bandala and Saliyana, located just 3-4 kilometers from our college. Over the course of two days, I observed the dairy farming practices of 28 farmers, predominantly women. The stark differences in management … Read more
August 12th, 2024 Rakesh Kumar, a seasoned dairy farmer with over 32 years of experience, runs a dairy farm in Gadiyara, near Saliyana Petrol Pump, Palampur. His farm is not only home to dairy cows but also a place where he engages in trading cows. Despite his extensive experience, a recent six-day visit revealed several … Read more
August 16th, 2024 In the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh, traditional cattle housing often falls short of providing a healthy and productive environment for dairy animals. Common issues like dampness, darkness, and poor ventilation plague many rural cattle sheds, making them unsuitable for the region’s extreme weather conditions. Standard designs taught in textbooks, often based … Read more
August 31st, 2024
October 11th, 2024 Ajay Kumar’s dairy farm, located in Kandwari, Palampur, is an exemplary model of how small-scale dairy farmers can utilize reproductive technology, specifically artificial insemination (AI), to grow their herd and enhance milk production. Over the past 10–15 years, Ajay Kumar has steadily increased his herd size and milk yield by leveraging Artificial … Read more
November 16th, 2024 Narender Kumar, a retired army personnel, has invested ₹16–18 lakhs into a modern dairy unit near Palampur, featuring impressive infrastructure such as a pucca building, tail-to-tail housing, resting mats, proper ventilation, and a milking machine assembly. Despite his efforts, operational challenges threaten the venture’s sustainability. Key issues include poor-quality cow selection, limited … Read more
December 30th, 2024 Participating in the workshop (December 26,2024) organized by ICAR-IVRI and CGIAR was an enriching experience. It illuminated both shared and region-specific challenges faced by women dairy farmers in India, with examples drawn from Veera village, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, where I work. Key Needs Identified for Women Dairy Farmers: Recommendations Moving … Read more