India’s Milk Production Grows by 63.6% Over a Decade, Contributes 25% to Global Output

New Delhi, March 25 (NationPress) India’s milk production has surged by 63.56% over the last decade, rising from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 239.2 million tonnes in 2023-24, reflecting an annual growth rate of 5.7%. In contrast, global milk production is increasing at a rate of 2% per year, as per the data presented in Parliament on Tuesday.

The per capita availability of milk in India has grown by 48% in the past ten years, reaching 471 gm/person/day in 2023-24, compared to 322 gm/person/day globally, as stated by Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Since 1998, India has held the top position in milk production, now contributing to 25% of the world’s milk output.

The minister also shared information on various initiatives the Indian Government is carrying out to enhance the dairy sector.

The National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) is being rolled out nationwide to support and enhance state efforts in milk production and processing infrastructure.

Component 'A' of NPDD concentrates on establishing and improving infrastructure for quality milk testing and primary chilling facilities for state cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations.

Component ‘B’, referred to as 'Dairying through Cooperatives', aims to boost the sales of milk and dairy products by enhancing farmers' access to organized markets, upgrading processing facilities, and improving marketing infrastructure.

To aid State Dairy Cooperative Federations, the Centre is providing interest subsidies on working capital loans to manage crises caused by adverse market conditions or natural disasters.

Additionally, the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) is being utilized to finance eligible projects initiated by individual entrepreneurs, dairy cooperatives, Farmers Producer Organisations, private firms, MSMEs, and Section 8 companies to invest in processing and value addition in animal husbandry.

This scheme provides credit facilities for establishing dairy processing infrastructure, manufacturing animal feed, implementing Breed Improvement Technology, managing animal waste, and producing veterinary vaccines and drugs.

To boost milk production and enhance bovine productivity, the Government is executing the 'Rashtriya Gokul Mission' aimed at developing and conserving indigenous breeds and improving the genetic quality of the bovine population.

The National Livestock Mission (NLM) has been initiated to emphasize entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goats, and pigs by incentivizing individuals, FPOs, SHGs, Section 8 companies, and state governments for infrastructure development.

Moreover, the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme offers proactive vaccination against animal diseases, capacity building for veterinary services, disease surveillance, and enhancement of veterinary infrastructure, the minister added.