Does access to veterinary department and cooperatives for technical advice improve livestock farmers’ income? Evidence from recent NSSO survey, India

The present study examined the level of access to the livestock extension system among livestock farmers in India and its implications for their income. A small proportion of farmers (19.13%) had access to livestock extension service providers. Among the various sources of extension services, the state veterinary department is the most commonly relied upon source (16.65%), followed by cooperatives (3.47%) and mass media (radio, television, and other electronic media) (2.13%). The study highlights a lack of pluralism within the livestock extension system in India. The socio-economic characteristics and the types of livestock ownership influenced farmers’ access to the veterinary department as well as their access in combination with cooperatives. Access to the veterinary department alone or in combination with cooperatives contributed to a significant increase in the annual net income of livestock farmers. Farmers who had access to both the veterinary department and cooperatives earned higher income compared to those who had access only to the veterinary department.