Information Sharing among Actors in Dairy Innovation Platforms

Abstract

Dairy farming is a cornerstone of global food security, serving as a primary source of nutrition for a burgeoning world population. Information sharing, a fundamental practice of exchanging knowledge and data, plays a pivotal role in enhancing the dairy sector's productivity and sustainability. This study delves into the intricacies of information exchange within the context of dairy innovation platforms (IPs) dynamic collaborative spaces where diverse stakeholders, including farmers, researchers, input suppliers and extension personnels etc., converge to address common challenges. Taking place both physically and virtually, dairy IPs facilitates collective problem-solving, with each member contributing their unique expertise to foster a win-win collaborative environment. This research article draws from a comprehensive investigation conducted in Haryana (India), focusing on two districts with substantial bovine populations i.e., Karnal and Hisar. These districts are home to multiple agricultural research institutes, universities and innovation platforms actively engaged in the dairy sector. Data were gathered randomly from 140 dairy actors, that includes researchers, extension personnels, input suppliers and dairy farmers, all with a minimum of five years of experience in their respective fields. Information sharing was evaluated through responses to specific dairy-related topics such as breeding, feeding, healthcare and management practices, collected during March 2017. Our findings reveal a dynamic landscape of information sharing among different actors within the dairy innovation platform. Researchers emerge as key contributors to topics like animal breeding (27.87%) and extreme weather control, while extension personnel excel in areas like pregnancy diagnosis and disbudding. Dairy Farmers, constituting the largest group, exhibit a keen interest in concentrate composition and green fodder types. Dairy farming serves as a critical pillar in meeting the nutritional needs of our ever-expanding global population and the information sharing is fundamental to enhancing its productivity and sustainability.