Impact of Small-Scale Dairy Business on Economic Empowerment (A Study of Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet)

Abstract

The study focuses on the role of small dairy business for economic empowerment of household in Birendranagar Municipality Surkhet of Nepal, particularly in terms of income, economic status, employment and financial self-reliability. The article relies on the evidence from the questionnaire of the study, descriptive results, the theoretical discussion of the study, and the empirical literature85 respondents have been used as an analytical basis in this presentation; the percentages of responses are not changed and the frequencies are proportionately re-constructed to add up to 85 in the tables.The results shows that dairy business is not a marginal business and it is playing a significant role in the livelihood of the households.The evidence reported indicates that 88.2% of entrepreneurs derive 30-70% of household income from the dairy activities and 65.7% view dairy as a stable source of income and a reduction of dependency on a single source of income.Saving capacity is also improved with 64.7% saving regularly and 64.7% having a surplus of income they could save. Enhanced purchasing power and economic security has a positive effect on economic well-being and 69.4% make a connection between the improvement in liquidity and economic security with dairy activity. Employment impacts are also considered to be significant: 70.6% recognize the importance of self-employment as well as wage work, and 69.4% affirm that both women and youth are involved in dairy activities. Women’s economic autonomy is especially apparent, with 65.9% linking dairy to both autonomous income and enhanced control over financial decisions in the household. The study suggests that small-scale dairy entrepreneurship is a viable means of economic empowerment provided there are assured markets, low-cost inputs, veterinary services, financing, skills development and effective cooperatives.