WATER PRODUCTIVITY OF MILK PRODUCTION IN NORTH GUJARAT, WESTERN INDIA
O. P. SINGH
International Water Management Institute, India Project Office,
Elecon campus, Anand-Sojitra Road,
Vallabh Vidyanagar – 388 120, Gujarat, India
Phone/Fax: + 91-2692-229310/11/12/13
E-mail:
North Gujarat is one of the few regions in the world where intensive use of groundwater for irrigation had led to alarming levels of depletion of the resource. Mehsana is a basket case for many undesirable consequences of groundwater overdraft. Dairy farming has become a major economic activity and source of livelihood in the rural areas of north Gujarat region, as groundwater becomes more and more scare and conventional farming becomes less and less viable. Dairying is highly water intensive. North Gujarat dairy farming is also dependent on imported virtual water in the form of feed and fodder. But no studies have so far attempted to quantify the amount of “blue water” and “virtual water” used by dairy farming which is the backbone of the region’s rural economy. The study estimates of irrigation water productivity of milk production; analyzes the extent to which dairy farming depends on groundwater pumped from within region and virtual water imports in the form of feed and fodder. The study also analyzes the potential impact of use of water-saving technologies in irrigating of fodder crops on groundwater draft.
The agronomic efficiency of water use in milk production is 0.31 litres/m3 of water for buffalo and 0.49 litres/m3 of water for crossbred cows. The economic efficiency of water use is to be Rs. 0.19/m3 for buffalo and Rs. 0.17/m3 for crossbred cows. Despite the fact that net water productivity of milk produce for buffalo and crossbred cow is much less than that for agricultural crops, farmers are engaged in dairying along with conventional crops. This is because several of the inputs used for dairying are by-products of crop produced in the region and the actual costs of inputs incurred are much less than the economic cost. Out of average daily water use, the share of virtual water is about 32%. Finally to make dairy farming in Gujarat less water intensive, then water-saving technology need to be promote not only for the alfalfa but also other crops which an part of livestock food chain.
INTRODUCTION
GujaratState is located in the western part of India and is a semi arid region. The per capita renewable freshwater resources in the State are estimated to be 1137 m3/annum and it is lowest in north Gujarat region with 427 m3/annum and highest in south and central Gujarat with 1932 m3/annum [5]. In 1997-98, the share of agriculture and animal husbandry to Net State Domestic Products (NSDP) at constant price (1993-94 prices) was about 24.3%. Of a gross irrigated area of 1.398 million hectares (1996-97) in north Gujarat region, 93.18% was from groundwater [4]. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater for irrigation is leading in alarming drops in groundwater levels in many parts the region [6], with the rate of decline in water levels ranging from 0.91 m to 6.0 m/annum [1]. Going by M. Falkenmark’s indicator of physical scarcity, north Gujarat is an “absolute water scare” region [5]. Looking at the fragile nature of water ecology, the region cannot support irrigated agriculture. But the reality is different. North Gujarat alone contributes about 40% (3822 MCM) of the total groundwater draft in the State [3]. Nearly 89.5% of the water used up in the region is for crop production. Alfalfa, which is a forage crop, is a major water-user in north Gujarat and takes away 13% of the total water diverted for irrigation in the region [5].
Secular decline in groundwater levels leading to astronomical rise in cost of water abstraction structures is depriving resource-poor, small, and marginal farmers of direct access to groundwater. Those, whose wells are dried up, largely depend on water purchased from rich well owners at prohibitive prices, to sustain irrigated agriculture. They use this water for growing green fodder, which is a critical input for dairying that has become a major economic activity and source of livelihood in the rural areas, as conventional farming becomes less and less viable with growing water scarcity. Dairy farmers of North Gujarat are also heavily dependent on imported “virtual water” in the form of cattle feed and fodder. Many researchers have argued that the region’s dairy farming is growing at the cost of depletion of precious groundwater resources. But no studies have so far attempted to quantify the amount of water used by dairy farming. The objectives of this paper are: [a] to carry out comparative study of irrigation water productivity for milk and crop production; [b] to determine the extent to which dairy farming depends on groundwater withdrawal within region and imported virtual water; and [c] to analyze the potential impact of water saving technologies in irrigation of fodder crops on groundwater draft.
ANALYTICAL PROCEDURE
The statistical tools used for analysis are discussed below:
Water use for crop production
Farmers grow a variety of crops as a strategy to cope with water scarcity. Through this, they sustain farming and dairy production, thereby livelihoods. The following method was employed to quantify irrigation water use for crop production.
TWU = AC * IN * HPI *PD (1)
Water productivity for crop production is calculated as:
WP = CO / TWU(2)
Where: TWU = Total water use (M3); AC = Area under particular crop (Ha); IN = Number of irrigation given to particular crop; HPI = Total hours of pump running for one irrigation; PD = Pump discharge (M3/hours); WP = Water productivity (kgs/M3); and CO = Crop output (kgs).
Water allocation between main and by-product
In case of milk production, most of the feed and fodder are by-products of crop production. For example; farmers generally grow wheat for grain. But wheat straw which is a by-product, is used as fodder for cattle. In such a situation, the total water used to produce the crop should be allocated between wheat grain and wheat straw. Dhondyal (1987) suggests that the ratio that exists in the income of the main and by-product should also be the ratio in the apportionment of their cost of production [2]. Therefore, water was allocated according to the ratio of the value of main and by-product of the crops.
Feed and fodder used for milk production
First of all, the season-wise average daily feed and fodder input to in-milk and dry animal and calf were estimated. Then on the basis of average daily feeding pattern, these values were imputed into the entire lifecycle of the animal which consists of the calf stage, milking stage and dry stage. Based on these, the daily feeding pattern for crossbred cow and buffalo were estimated. Buffalo, on average a female calf would requires 40 month for first calving and the length of lactation period is 305 days and calving interval is four month. In case of crossbred cow, on average female calf would take about 36 month for first calving and length of lactation period is 305 days and calving interval is four month.
QMP = f (QDW, QGF, QDF, QC)(3)
Where: QMP = Milk production (litres/day/animal); QDW = Drinking water consumed by livestock (M3/day/animal); QGF = Green fodder fed to livestock (kgs/day/animal); QDF = Dry fodder fed to livestock (kgs/day/animal); and QC = Concentrate fed to livestock (kgs/day/animal).
Water used for milk production
The total water used for milk production depends on two variables: (1) direct water used by livestock for drinking purpose; and (2) water used for the production of green and dry fodder and concentrates. The water used by buffalo and crossbred cow per day is defined as:
TWU = WDW + WGF + WDF + WC(4)
Where: TWU = Total water used by livestock (M3/day/animal); WDW = Total water used by livestock in the form of drinking water (M3/day/animal); WGF = Irrigation water used for producing green fodder (M3); WDF = Irrigation water used for producing dry fodder (M3); and WC = Irrigation water used for producing concentrate (M3).
To find out milk production per m3 of water is calculated as:
WMP = QMP / TWU(5)
Where: WMP = Water productivity for milk production (Litre/m3/animal); QMP = Total milk production (Litres/animal/day); and TWU = Total water used (m3/day/animal).
Imported virtual water
In north Gujarat region, dairy farmers are importing dry fodder from outside and within the region. In case of feed, most of the ingredients which are used for the preparation of Sagardan (brand name of balanced cattle feed) are imported from out side the region. For the quantification of virtual water transfer which takes place through feed and fodder trade in the region, figures of total quantity of feed and fodder brought in the region, the estimates of amount of water required to produce unit weight of feed and fodder.
Result And Discussion
The results of the study are respect to the following: [1] water productivity of major irrigated crops; [2] average feed and fodder consume by buffalo and crossbred cow; [3] average daily milk production; [4] agronomic efficiency of water use in milk production; [5] impact of water saving technology used in fodder production on water productivity of milk production; [6] virtual water import; and [6] Gross and net water productivity of crop and milk production. They are discussed in following sub-section of the paper.
Water productivity of major crops
Alfalfa, which is being used as a green fodder for milk production, is most water-intensive among all fodder crops (Table 1). Farmers are sowing alfalfa crop in the month of October and it remain in the field till May depending on the water availability. During the entire crop season farmers provide about 15 to 20 irrigations and it takes about 1800 mm water. The water productivity analysis shows that one cubic meter water can produce about 3.41 kg of alfalfa. The gross market value is Rs 5.12. In case of potato, farmers apply an average of 537 mm of water during the whole crop season and it can produce 4.50 kg of potato per m3 of water, the gross market value of which is about Rs. 12.
Feed and fodder used for milk production
Average daily total feed and fodder fed to buffalo is 23.67 kgs (Table 2). Out of this, the share of green fodder is about 50%, dry fodder is 23%, and remaining 27% is concentrate. Average daily water used for drinking purpose is 59.12 litres. Among the green fodder, share of alfalfa is 71%. In case of dry fodder, the larger share is bajara with 68% followed by wheat straw (23%). In case of concentrate, largest share is sagardan (balanced cattle feed) and lowest is wheat flour. Average daily feed and fodder used for crossbred cow is 24.76 kgs/day/animal (Table 2). Out of this, the share of green fodder, dry fodder, and concentrate are 52%, 26%, and 22%, respectively. Out of the total green fodder fed to crossbred cow, the highest share is alfalfa (70%) and lowest is pioneer jowar (5%). In case of dry fodder, share of bajara is highest and lowest is jowar. Out of the total concentrate fed to crossbred cow, the larger share comes from sagardan with 54% and remaining share is from maize grain and wheat flour. The average daily water used for drinking purpose is 49.12 litres/animal.
Average daily milk productions
The average daily milk production was estimated on the basis of the animal life cycle. The average price offered by the dairy cooperative society to dairy farmers is Rs. 12.53/litre for buffalo and Rs. 8.11 for crossbred cow. The average milk production of buffalo is 3.12 litres/day/animal. From this, the farmers earn an income of Rs. 39.0/day/animal. Average milk production for crossbred cow is 5.11 litres/animal/day and farmers earn a gross income of Rs. 41.44/animal/day.
Agronomic efficiency of water use in milk production
Average daily water use for buffalo milk production is 10.17 m3/animal (Table 2). It consists of 4.14 m3 water for green fodder production, 1.09 m3 for dry fodder production, and 4.89 m3 for concentrate production and the rest 0.06 m3 water used for drinking purpose. The average daily buffalo milk production is 3.12 litres. The agronomic water productivity for buffalo milk is 0.31 litres/m3 and gross economic efficiency is Rs. 3.84/m3. The average daily water use for milk production of crossbred cow is 10.51 m3/animal. Water used for production of green fodder, dry fodder, concentrate, and drinking water is 4.05 m3, 1.37 m3, 5.04 m3 and 0.05 m3 respectively. Total average daily milk production of crossbred cow is 5.11 litres/animal. The agronomic efficiency for crossbred cow milk production was 0.49 litres/m3 of water, which gross economic efficiency was Rs. 3.94 (Table 2).
Impact of water saving technology on water use and water productivity for milk production
From the above discussion it is clear that out of the total irrigation water used for green fodder production, the larger share is used to produce alfalfa (Table 1). The water application rate for alfalfa is 1786.36 mm. Kumar et al. (2003) studied the performance of drip irrigation in alfalfa crop in Banaskantha district of north Gujarat region and found that it could save about 43% irrigation water and increase crop yield by 10% [7]. For the purpose of analysis, assumed 50% reduction in irrigation water use and no change is crop productivity. In case of the buffalo, average daily water saved due to drip irrigation in alfalfa was 1.36 m3/animal whereas in case of crossbred cow, it was 1.33 m3/animal. Analysis showed that after using water-saving technology in alfalfa, the agronomic efficiency would be increase by 12.90% and 14.29% for buffalo and crossbred cow respectively. The application of water saving device has some impact on enhancing water productivity of milk production. If we want to make dairy farming less water intensive, than it is required to use water saving devices for all the crops which are part of livestock food chain.
Virtual water import
Dairy farmers of north Gujarat region are dependent on import of feed and fodder to sustain milk production. In case of dry fodder, semi-structured markets are prevailing in the region. However, study was unable to capture the figures of dry fodder imports. In case of concentrate, dairy farmers are feeding balance cattle feed known as sagardan, maize grain, and wheat flour. In case of wheat flour, normally farmers are using their own produce. For the preparation of sagardan (Balanced cattle feed), the ingredients are normally imported from outside north Gujarat. For the purpose of virtual water import, we consider two aspects: ingredients of sagardan and maize grain. In case of buffalo, average daily water used for milk production is 10.17 m3/animal. The share of virtual water is 32.52%. In case of crossbred cow, average daily water used for milk production is 10.51 m3/animal. Out of this, the share of virtual water share is 31.74%.
Gross and net water productivity for crop and milk production
The gross economic water productivity is highest for potato with Rs. 12.13/m3 of water and lowest for cotton with Rs. 3.94/m3 of water. In the case of foodgrain, maximum gross economic water productivity was observed for kharif bajara and minimum for wheat which could generate about Rs. 7.73 and Rs. 3.40/m3 of water respectively. In case of milk production, the highest gross economic water productivity is crossbred cow milk production and it can generate milk which market value is Rs. 3.94 from per m3 of water (Table 3). The net economic water productivity of caster was highest (Rs. 7.21/m3) and lowest for cotton (Rs. 0.68/m3). In case of foodgrain crops, highest net economic water productivity was found for kharif bajara and lowest for wheat crop with Rs. 4.82/m3 and Rs. 1.08/m3 respectively. In case of milk production, net economic water productivity for buffalo milk was Rs. 0.19/m3 of water whereas for crossbred cow, it was Rs. 0.17/m3 (Table 3). The net economic return from milk production, which is a highly water intensive activity, is very small. Still, every farmer goes for dairying. This phenomenon could be explained in the following way. Normally, farmers do not account for economic cost of crop residues from their own fields that are used as cattle input. If that is the case, then the net economic return from milk production could be higher than estimated. Secondly, farmers do not consider the virtual water, which come in the form of cattle feed, used for milk production, if we consider these factors, estimates show that the “effective net water productivity” would be Rs. 5.22 and Rs. 5.57, respectively, for buffalo and crossbred cow.
Table 1. Crop Water Use and Water Productivity
Name of the Crop / Average Depth of Watering (mm) / Agronomic Efficiency (Kgs/M3) / Gross Economic Efficiency (Rs/M3)Main Product / By-product / Total / Main Product / By-product / Main Product / By-product / Total
A. Green Fodder
1. Pioneer Jowar / 721.21 / - / 721.21 / 2.43 / - / 3.65 / - / 3.65
2. Rajka Bajari / 298.10 / - / 298.10 / 4.03 / - / 4.03 / - / 4.03
3. Kharif Jowar / 647.72 / - / 647.72 / 1.97 / - / 1.97 / - / 1.97
4. Alfalfa / 1786.36 / - / 1786.36 / 3.41 / - / 5.12 / - / 5.12
5. Jowar Summer / 832.79 / - / 832.79 / 1.32 / - / 1.32 / - / 1.32
B. Cash Crops
1. Castor / 1661.47 / - / 1661.47 / 0.69 / - / 10.17 / - / 10.17
2. Cotton / 645.40 / - / 645.40 / 0.21 / - / 3.94 / - / 3.94
3. Tobacco / 816.85 / - / 816.85 / 0.31 / - / 7.02 / - / 7.02
4. Mustard / 405.20 / - / 405.20 / 0.43 / - / 5.67 / - / 5.67
5. Potato / 537.12 / - / 537.12 / 4.50 / - / 12.13 / - / 12.13
C. Foodgrain Crops
1. Bajari Kharif / 128.40 / 128.40 / 256.79 / 1.55 / 7.73 / 7.73 / 7.73 / 7.73
2. Wheat / 536.61 / 107.32 / 643.93 / 0.54 / 2.72 / 3.40 / 3.40 / 3.40
3. Bajari Summer / 352.81 / 328.00 / 680.81 / 0.80 / 4.30 / 4.28 / 4.30 / 4.29
Table 2. Average Feed and Fodder Use and Water Productivity for Milk Production