Question

‘Dairy farming is practised mainly near urban and industrial centres.’ Justify the statement with examples.

Answer 1

Dairy farming usually occurs near urban and industrial areas for the following reasons:

1. High Demand in Urban Areas: Dairy goods such as milk, butter, and cheese are in high demand in urban areas due to their perishable nature. Establishing dairy farms near metropolitan areas ensures a timely supply. Dairy farms in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru serve enormous populations.
2. Efficient Transportation and Distribution: Cities have improved transportation infrastructure, resulting in speedier delivery of dairy products to markets. Amul Dairy in Gujarat has an effective supply system to distribute milk throughout India.
3. Access to Processing Industries: Dairy farms are strategically located near processing factories to minimize spoilage and increase production efficiency. Anand (Gujarat), home of Amul, has significant dairy processing complexes in milk-producing areas.
4. Availability of Market Infrastructure: Dairy enterprises benefit from large storage, packaging, and marketing facilities in urban settings. Mother Dairy in Delhi-NCR benefits from its accessibility to both customers and distribution locations.
5. Economic Opportunities for Farmers: Cities offer greater pricing for dairy goods, encouraging farmers to establish closer farms and increase profitability. Punjab and Haryana dairy farmers provide fresh milk to Delhi and Chandigarh.

Therefore, dairy farming thrives in urban and industrial areas because to high demand, efficient transportation, and market access, resulting in profitability and sustainability.