Abstract :

This review explores dairy farming as a strategic avenue for promoting sustainable rural development and empowering women in the Kalaburagi and Bidar districts of Karnataka. These regions, predominantly agrarian with limited industrial growth, face socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, income inequality, and gender disparity. The need for the study arises from the pressing requirement to identify inclusive and sustainable livelihood options, particularly for rural women who often remain on the periphery of economic participation. The review synthesizes existing literature, field reports, and policy frameworks to assess how dairy farming has evolved as a livelihood model. Findings indicate that dairy farming not only enhances household income and nutritional security but also significantly boosts women’s socio-economic status through increased decision-making roles and financial independence. Initiatives led by self-help groups (SHGs), cooperatives, and government schemes have further facilitated access to resources, training, and credit support, thus strengthening women’s participation in the dairy value chain. The study underscores the dual impact of dairy farming—contributing to rural economic resilience while acting as a catalyst for gender empowerment. However, persistent challenges such as limited access to veterinary care, fluctuating market prices, and lack of infrastructural support need to be addressed. The review concludes by highlighting the scope for future research in evaluating the long-term sustainability of dairy farming under climate variability, as well as the need for gender-sensitive policy interventions that ensure equitable growth across rural sectors.

---

Keywords :

Bidar, Dairy farming, Economic resilience, Gender inclusion, Kalaburagi, Livelihood, Self-help groups., Sustainable rural development, Women empowerment.

---

References :

1. Alem, D., & Arebu, N. (2025). The Role of Gender Norms in Transforming Dairy Farming and Empowering Women in Ethiopia. Asian Journal of Research in Biology.
2. Baldin, M., Cardoso, V. L., dos Santos, A., Cerqueira, P. R., & Santos, D. J. (2025). Standardization of performance indicators for dairy cattle in Brazil. Journal of Dairy Science, 108(1), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-23890
3. Basu, P., & Galiè, A. (2021). Nested scales of sustainable livelihoods: Gendered perspectives on small-scale dairy development in Kenya. Sustainability, 13(13), 7414. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137414
4. Brown, K. A., Venkateshmurthy, N. S., Potubariki, G., et al. (2022). The role of dairy in healthy and sustainable food systems: Community voices from India. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 621. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12964-7
5. Cabrera, V. E., Wang, H., & Weng, X. (2025). Big data applications in dairy farming. Journal of Dairy Science, 108(2), 125–140. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-23952
6. Cao, H., Guo, H., & Li, X. (2025). Government support and digital adoption in farmer cooperatives. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 189, 122331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122331
7. Chagwiza, C., Muradian, R., & Ruben, R. (2016). Cooperative membership and dairy performance in Ethiopia. Food Policy, 59, 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2016.01.008
8. Chand, P., Sirohi, S., & Sirohi, S. K. (2015). Development and application of an integrated sustainability index for small-holder dairy farms in Rajasthan, India. Ecological Indicators, 56, 23–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.03.015
9. Cheng, X., Han, J., Chen, J., & Wang, Y. (2025). Determinants of smallholder participation in dairy cooperatives: Evidence from Zambia. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 20(1), 33–47.
10. Christie, M. (2021). Institutions and cooperative success in Indian dairy farming. Development in Practice, 31(2), 145–158. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2020.1847589
11. Djurfeldt, N. G., Bryan, E., Davis, K., Boukaka, S., & Ghione, A. (2024). Fostering Gender Equity in Nature-Positive Solutions. CGIAR Working Paper Series.
12. Dohmwirth, C. (2014). The impact of dairy cooperatives on the economic empowerment of rural women in Karnataka [PhD dissertation, Humboldt University of Berlin]. UGent. https://libstore.ugent.be
13. Dou, Y., Han, X., & He, C. (2025). Sustainable supply chains in the dairy industry: Equity and waste management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 418, 139815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.139815
14. Galiè, A., Njiru, N., Heckert, J., & Myers, E. (2022). Gendered Barriers and Opportunities in Kenya’s Informal Dairy Sector. Gender and Development.
15. Galiè, A., Teufel, N., Korir, L., Baltenweck, I., & Michler, J. D. (2019). The women’s empowerment in livestock index. Social Indicators Research, 142(2), 799–825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-018-1934-z
16. Gandhi, M. (2024). Enhancing Rural Livelihoods: The Role of Dairy Farming in Income and Employment Generation in Telangana. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385494333

17. Garai, S., Ghosh, M.K., Maiti, S., & Meena, B.S. (2022). Development and Application of Dairy-Based Sustainable Livelihood Security Index in the Districts of West Bengal, India. Journal of Rural Studies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0743016718303322
18. Holloway, G., Nicholson, C., Delgado, C., Staal, S., & Ehui, S. (2000). Agroindustrialization through institutional innovation: Transaction costs, cooperatives and milk-market development in the East-African highlands. Agricultural Economics, 23(3), 279–288. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2000.tb00279.x
19. Ikemoto, S. Y. Y. (2015). Women’s empowerment through small-scale dairy farming in selected areas of Bangladesh. Asian Social Science, 11(25), 213–223. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v11n25p213
20. Islam, M. R., Kabir, S. M. L., & Islam, M. S. (2019). Women’s empowerment through small-scale dairy farming in Bangladesh: A study on some selected areas of Mymensingh district. Bangladesh Journal of Food Safety and Security, 1(1), 20–27. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BJFSS/article/view/44240
21. Jadoun, Y. S., Singh, J., Singh, K., Verma, H. K., & Singh, A. (2023). Gender mainstreaming in livestock farming: A key strategy for sustainable livestock development. Vetscan, 18(2), 58–64. http://new.gadvasu.in
22. Kareska, R. (2025). Cooperative farming and community cohesion: A comparative study. Journal of Rural Studies, 98, 101057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.101057
23. Kebebe, E., Oosting, S. J., Baltenweck, I., & van der Zijpp, A. J. (2015). Strategies for dairy development in Ethiopia: Farmer preferences and institutional settings. Agricultural Systems, 141, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2015.09.006
24. Kiyimba, F. L. (2011). Tools for women’s empowerment?: The case of the forage chopper for smallholder dairy farmers in Uganda [Master’s thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
25. Kumar, V., Wankhede, K.G., & Gena, H.C. (2015). Role of Cooperatives in Improving Livelihood of Farmers on Sustainable Basis. American Journal of Educational Research, 3(10), 1258–1266. https://www.rfilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Cooperatives.pdf
26. Makoni, N., Mwai, R., Redda, T., Zijpp, A., & Lee, J. (2014). Review of the African dairy value chain: Challenges and opportunities. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Retrieved from https://www.fao.org/3/i3910e/i3910e.pdf
27. Manlosa, A. O., Schultner, J., Dorresteijn, I., & Fischer, J. (2019). Leverage Points for Improving Gender Equality and Human Well-being in Smallholder Farming. Sustainability Science.
28. Mostari, M. P., Sadrul, S. B., & Rahman, M. H. (2021). Women empowerment and livestock development in Bangladesh: A review. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science, 50(1), 50–59. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v50i1.54458
29. Mukeku, C. M. (2024). Women’s participation in Kenya dairy cooperative decision-making processes [Doctoral dissertation, Walden University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
30. (2015). Empowerment and group cohesiveness among members of women dairy cooperatives in Karnataka [Master’s thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore]. Krishikosh. https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in
31. Pasha, M. M. H. (2024). Small-scale dairy farming and women’s empowerment: Insights from Pabna district in Bangladesh. Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment, 5(1), 49–55. https://journal.safebd.org/index.php/jafe/article/view/212
32. Paul, D. R. S. (2024). Empowering women through dairy farming. New Delhi: National Publishing House.
33. Qureshi, M. A., Khan, P. A., & Uprit, S. (2016). Empowerment of rural women through agriculture and dairy sectors in India. Economic Affairs, 61(2), 331–336. https://doi.org/10.5958/0976-4666.2016.00041.6
34. Raja, S., & Sehgal, S. (2018). Role of Dairy Farming in Rural Development. In Veterinary Science: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice. IGI Global. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322489384
35. Saha, S. K., Barsha, T. F., & Selim, S. A. (2021). Potentials of private dairy cooperative in promoting women empowerment in rural areas of Bangladesh: A study on Kazi dairy. PLAN PLUS, 18(2), 54–63. https://www.researchgate.net
36. Sivasubramanian, K., Adarsh, R., & Singh, N. (2024). Economic empowerment of women through household dairy farming in rural India. In Women’s Empowerment (pp. 139–158). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3551-4_7
37. Sonola, O. (2025). Comparative dairy policy frameworks in India and Germany: Implications for nutrition and rural development. Food Policy Review, 47(1), 23–35.
38. Sowmiya, K. C., Vetrivel, S. C., & Sabareeshwari, V. (2024). Women’s Role in Farm Management. In Women in Food and Agricultural Development.
39. Subhashchandra, G. R. (2023). A Role of Women in Dairy Farming. Vidhyayana – An International Journal.
40. Subhashchandra, G. R. (2023). A role of women in dairy farming. Vidhyayana: An International Multidisciplinary Peer-Reviewed E-Journal, 8(3), 1–7. http://j.vidhyayanaejournal.org
41. Sutthichaimethee, P., Harnpornchai, N., & Yampracha, S. (2025). Climate-smart agriculture policies for sustainable dairy farming in Southeast Asia. Environmental Science & Policy, 140, 75–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.12.012
42. Ton, G., Vellema, W., Desiere, S., Weituschat, S., & D’Haese, M. (2016). Comparative performance of dairy cooperatives in Kenya and Morocco. Development Policy Review, 34(2), 223–243. https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12151
43. Upton, M. (2004). The Role of Livestock in Economic Development and Poverty Reduction. FAO. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23510344
44. van der Lee, J., Bebe, B. O., & Oosting, S. J. (2014). Sustainable dairy development in emerging economies: A strategic approach. Wageningen UR Livestock Research. https://doi.org/10.18174/315386
45. Wagan, H., Memon, B., Solangi, A. W., Wagan, G. H., & Qazi, A. (2024). Empowering rural women: Examining their role in agriculture and livestock in Taluka Hyderabad Rural, Sindh, Pakistan with a focus on sustainable development. Bulletin of Green Management and Climate Economics, 3(1), 12–20. https://abgmce.com
46. Waters-Bayer, A., & Letty, B. (2010). Promoting gender equality and empowering women through livestock. In The Role of Livestock in Developing Communities.
47. Zulfiqar, N., Afzal, A., Ishaq, K., & Hashmi, N. (2021). Empowering women: Nudging as an influence to enhance the efficiency of women dairy workers. Pakistan Journal of Social and Economic Leadership, 2(2), 65–74. https://pjsel.jehanf.com