Dietary Aspect
Beef and dairy are an important staple in the diet of many people in India. Poorer citizens are widely affected by the beef ban in a negative way. Many believe this beef ban is a deprivation of food and livelihood. However, there has been a rising sector in the dairy industry that has impacted the agricultural economy and transformed it and smallholder dairy farmers. India is the largest milk producer with annual production of about 127 million tons ( Mudgil and Sheweta 1). Unlike other developed countries its milk production is dominated by smallholder dairy farms (Kale, Rajiv B., et al. 260).
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The demand for milk has increased with the increase of modern food supply chains. Studies show selling milk through informal channels is less lucrative than supplying the multinational sector. The milk market plays an important role in achieving food security in India. Malnutrition is a prevalent issue for rural India in particular. Recent results indicate that participating in milk market chains has a positive impact on food security and small scale farmers receive the most economic benefit from modern milk marketing outlets (Kumar, et al. 261).
Farmers generated an interest in building an ecological, climate, and economic resistance. Certain breeds of cows such as Holstein Friesians are specialized and typically bred for a single purpose such as producing dairy. Farmers would ideally breed, either the local Hallikar or crossbred livestock, a more diverse species that would provide different commodities such as manure, milk, meat, transportation, and energy. The goal of diversifying would be to feed the farmers first and to create more resilient systems (Ramdas 1).
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