STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN AS BASIS FOR THEIR EFFICIENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Qualitative and semi-quantitative data from 139 interviews with farmers in Faisalabad, Pakistan, was subjected to cluster analysis to identify homogenous groups of farms regarding production strategies, milk yields and marketing. Four distinct production systems were identified. Semi-commercial smallholder-mixed systems (SSM; 31%) combined crop and livestock production, and fodder was primarily produced for own livestock. Semi-commercial smallholder dairy producers (SSD; 21.6%) had few buffaloes and cattle and low income. Commercial smallholder dairy producers (CSD; 37.4%) were mostly well-off and produced substantial quantities of milk year-round. Commercial large-holder dairy farms (CLD; 10%) showed the highest input and output levels. In all systems, most of the produced milk was sold in the increasing order of percentage (SSM: 69%, SSD: 69%, CSD: 87%; CLD: 94%). Negligence in breeding, wastage of high yielding buffaloes, high costs of feedstuffs, an unfavorable marketing system and lack of a diversified dairy value chain were the main constraints for all production systems. Improving efficiency of the resources usage; especially with respect to animal genetics and nutrition, should be encouraged in dairy farmers of Faisalabad as well as other major cities in Pakistan to produce milk upto the maximum potential of their animals. This could satisfy the need of milk production for sale, serving both the increasing urban demand for milk, as well as income generation for the farmers. To this end farmers' endeavors must be supported by initiatives from government and private bodies.