A Study on Cooperative Dairy Farming and Sustainable Livelihoods in Uttarakhand

Abstract

Cooperative dairy farming has emerged as an important institutional pathway for strengthening rural livelihoods in India. In Uttarakhand, where agriculture is shaped by fragmented landholdings, hilly terrain, limited market access, and seasonal vulnerability, dairy farming offers a relatively regular and resilient source of household income. This paper develops a journal-style empirical framework to examine the relationship between cooperative dairy farming and sustainable livelihoods in Uttarakhand. The study proposes that participation in dairy cooperatives improves market access, income stability, women’s participation, and access to extension and veterinary services, which together enhance sustainable livelihood outcomes. Drawing on the sustainable livelihoods framework, the paper conceptualizes livelihood improvement through financial, human, social, physical, and natural capital. The manuscript presents a review of the relevant literature, a set of testable hypotheses, a conceptual model, a questionnaire, and an empirical methodology suitable for journal submission. The paper argues that cooperative dairy farming can play a transformative role in Uttarakhand’s rural economy, but its impact depends on institutional support, infrastructure, ecological adaptation, and inclusion of women producers. Official dairy development initiatives in India have explicitly framed dairying through cooperatives as a route to sustainable livelihood enhancement, which supports the relevance of the present inquiry.