**1. Introduction**

Farming is about feeding the world population that exceeds 6.9 billion people and is estimated to be more than 9 billion by 2050 [1]. In this scenario, striving to protect the natural resources (such as soil, water, and air) needed for current and future food production is not a new endeavor, although the present-day pressures on entire Earth's resources have generated widespread interest in agricultural productivity enhancement. Modern farming practices aids tremendously in boosting the food production across the world that too on diminishing cultivable land [2]. Increase in agricultural productivity achieved with altogether application of scientific knowledge and technological innovations [3].

The dairy world has also witnessed the rising trend of production and consumption and can be depicted as globally connected, composite and fast-changing sector of food production. Along with augmented supply of milk, rapid economic growth, population expansion, increased urbanization etc. have also boosted up the demand for dairy products. With a growing middle class population having more disposable income, consumers seeking out healthy alternatives to fit in with a more active lifestyle, and a focus on natural ingredients, so milk and dairy products are growing in popularity. Presently the dairy world is serving over 7 billion consumers and providing livelihoods for approximately 1 billion people thrive on dairy farms [4]. Rearing of dairy animals always has a complimentary, supplementary and sustainable relationship with crops under mixed farming system prevalent in majority of the countries. However, as milk found the top most agricultural commodity in value terms and ranked third by production worldwide in 2013 [5], the valuable role of dairy sector in feeding the population of this planet can be understood without neglecting the need for sustainability at dairy farms as defined by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) [2].

Being the chief source of income and food for a greater part of the rural poor [6], dairying is important for food security in many developing countries; also considered as one of the important sector for alleviating poverty, unemployment and reducing income inequalities. More balanced development of the rural economy is possible through the development of this sector [7]. The increasing importance of dairy to the world economy raises the importance of competitiveness among the countries. Globalization, trade liberalization and advancement in transportation and communication have given rise to an outstanding acceleration of market competition. This assures consumers to have a variety of goods and services to choose from, for a better standard of living with encouraging lower prices and lower fluctuations too.

Milk, produced from small as well as large scale farms at micro level, is contributing to every nation's economy, consequently global economy at macro level. There is a wide disparity of dairy farms in the world ranging from less than 3 cows per farm in some countries to over 1000 cows per farm in others, highlighting that milk production is performed distinctively in different countries. Discrepancies have also been noticed in terms of farm size, housing, milking and feeding systems. However, the world's average farmer keeps 3.2 milk animals with an average annual milk yield of approximately 2.2-ton ECM/animal/year [8]. During the era of global competition, achieving maximum productivity by using scarce natural resources is the biggest challenge among the dairy farmers, which can been addressed by implementing dairy farming innovations at every farmer's farm. Application of innovations at every stage of production since from cultivation of fodder till marketing of milk is the dire need of the present day.

Farm innovations are the novel practices/products/techniques suitable for particular area, physiological stage of animals and economically viable option to enhance the animals' per diem yield. Low cost and user friendly dairy farming innovations (technologies) suitable for all kinds of farms, maintained under rural conditions existing in different tropical countries are proved to be useful in enhancing animal productivity and henceforth farmers' socio-economic welfare. The term technology explains systematic application of scientific or other organized body of knowledge to practical purposes, which includes new ideas, inventions, innovations, techniques, methods and materials [9]. A decision made by an individual or group to use an innovation in a continuous manner termed as adoption. As, dairying has become a commercial enterprise and needs technology adoption for higher milk yield and lower per unit costs [10]; Innovations applicable for increasing net returns, reducing costs and optimizing production are discussed in this chapter; so that a common dairy farmer as well as consumer can contribute to a more resilient and more sustainable future for all of us.
