What Determines the Profitability of Smallholder Dairy Farms in Pakistan? A Scoping Review of Feed Costs, Milk Prices, and Market Access
Abstract
Dairy animals provide income and food for many households in Pakistan, yet producing more milk does not necessarily leave a farmer with more money. Feed expenditure, the price received for milk, and the practical terms of reaching a buyer all affect the return from a dairy enterprise. To map accessible Pakistani evidence on feed costs, milk prices, and market access in relation to smallholder dairy profitability. A focused scoping review was conducted on 24 September 2026. A specified PubMed search was supplemented by targeted searches of publisher pages, journal sites, institutional repositories, and sources identified during preparation of the review. Records were screened for Pakistani smallholder dairy production and a relevant economic or marketing outcome. The search and selection counts are reported in a PRISMA-style flow. Findings were charted by setting, design, economic measure, and relevance to the three review themes. Six sources met the eligibility criteria and were available in full text: three research articles, one farm-economics working paper, and two project reports. Farm accounts and comparative analyses identified feed expenditure as a substantial influence on returns but showed that yield and technical efficiency cannot stand in for profit. Marketing evidence linked channel choice to milk volume, price, travel distance, and payment timing. Value-chain research also documented the credit and collection services provided by informal intermediaries. A useful measure of dairy profitability must bring production and sale into the same account: the cost of producing saleable milk, the price actually received, and the costs and timing of payment. The accessible evidence supports this framework, although the limited search and differences between studies prevent a national estimate of smallholder profit.
Keywords: Pakistan, Smallholder Dairy Farming, Profitability; Feed Costs; Milk Price; Market Access; Scoping Review.
