India’s milk production growth 3-times higher than global average

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While stressing the significant rise in domestic milk production in recent years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the country’s yearly milk production growth is three times faster than the average for the world.

The prime minister emphasised that since 2014, the administration has worked nonstop to maximise the potential of India’s dairy industry. As a result, there has been an increase in milk output, which has raised farmers’ revenue. “In 2014, India produced 146 million tonnes of milk; now, that number has risen to 210 million tonnes, a 44 percent increase.

India is recording a milk production growth rate of more than 6%, the Prime Minister noted, in contrast to the world production growth rate of 2%.

The Prime Minister expressed his happiness that all of the dignitaries from the dairy industry have gathered in India today while speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022, which was held at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, today.

The World Dairy Summit, according to the Prime Minister, will be a fantastic forum for the exchange of ideas.

“The dairy sector’s potential not only boosts the rural economy, but it also provides a significant portion of the world’s population with a means of subsistence,” he added.
The Prime Minister emphasised the significance of “Pashu Dhan” and milk-related industries to India’s cultural fabric.
India is the largest milk-producing nation thanks to the efforts of these small farmers with one, two, or three cattle, and this sector provides employment for more than 8 crore families in the nation. “India’s dairy sector is characterised by “production by masses” more than “mass production,” he said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that there is such a vast network of dairy cooperatives in India that one cannot find such an example anywhere else in the world while describing the second distinctive feature of the Indian dairy system.

These dairy cooperatives distribute milk to clients twice daily after collecting it from more than two crore farmers in more than two lakh villages throughout the nation, he added.

The fact that there is no intermediary in the entire process, and that more than 70% of the money collected from clients goes straight into the pockets of the farmers, was another point he called attention to.

The Prime Minister said, “No other nation in the entire world has this percentage.

He also emphasised the effectiveness of the dairy industry’s digital payment system, saying that other nations may learn a lot from it.

The Prime Minister claims that the indigenous breeds, which can endure numerous challenging conditions, are another distinctive quality.

He used the Banni Buffalo, a hardy breed of buffalo native to Gujarat’s Kutch area, as an example.
Additional kinds of buffalo that he described included Murrah, Mehsana, Jafrabadi, Nili Ravi, and Pandharpuri.

He also identified other types of cows, including Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Kankrej, Tharparker, and Haryana.

Women hold a 70% workforce presence in India’s dairy industry, which Prime Minister Modi emphasised as evidence of their influence in the industry.

“The true decision-makers in India’s dairy industry are women. In India, dairy cooperatives have a higher than average proportion of female members. The dairy industry is worth more than 8.5 lakh crore rupees, which is more than the combined value of rice and wheat. All of this is driven by India’s strong women “he added.

The government, according to the prime minister, is aiming to create a clean dairy ecosystem where issues facing the various sectors are handled along with a focus on raising output.

He emphasised that animal husbandry and dairy are being promoted as a powerful medium of green and sustainable growth in the villages and that programmes like Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Goberdhan Yojna, Digitization of the dairy sector, Universal Vaccination of Cattle, along with steps like banning single-use plastic, are steps in that direction.

The Prime Minister compared animal husbandry to farming and noted that both require diversity and that monoculture may not be the sole option.

The Prime Minister reitertated that India now gives both native breeds and hybrid breeds similar attention. He went on to say that it will lessen the possibility of climate change damage.

The Prime Minister addressed animal illnesses, another significant issue that has an impact on farmers’ revenue.

He said, “When the animal is ill, it impacts the farmer’s life and his income, as well as the effectiveness of the animal, the quality of its milk, and other associated items.

The Prime Minister emphasised that India is moving in this direction to vaccinate all animals.

The Prime Minister stated, “We have decided that by 2025, we will vaccinate 100% of the animals against Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis, with the goal of being fully free from these diseases by the end of this decade.

The Prime Minister noted that the illness known as Lumpy has recently caused cattle losses in several parts of India and assured everyone that the federal government, together with various state governments, is doing its best to maintain a lid on it.

IDF WDS 2022, which runs from September 12 to September 15, brings together international and Indian dairy stakeholders, including business executives, academics, farmers, and policy planners, under the topic “Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood.”

IDF WDS 2022 is anticipated to draw over 1,500 participants from 50 nations. The most recent summit took place in India in 1974, which was around 50 years ago.

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