Minister Singh highlighted the pivotal role of dedicated policy support, noting that the establishment of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying in 2019 accelerated the development of these vital sectors. Collectively, these industries now sustain over 10 crore livelihoods. Crucially, the dairy workforce is a major driver of women’s empowerment, with females comprising over 70 per cent of the sector’s total labor, reflecting both rural prosperity and social advancement in India.

The dairy sector has shown phenomenal growth, with milk production increasing by 63 per cent—from 146 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 239 million tonnes in 2024-25—firmly positioning India as the world leader in milk production volume. The efficiency of the herd has also seen remarkable improvement, with the productivity of cattle and buffaloes growing by over 25 per cent, the fastest rate globally. Furthermore, intensive livestock health campaigns, which have administered over 125 crore vaccine doses for diseases like Foot-and-Mouth Disease, are now moving nine states towards FMD-free status, a development expected to significantly boost India’s milk exports.

Significant investment was also channeled into the burgeoning fisheries sector. The Minister stated that schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) have provided a substantial boost for creating modern infrastructure, including cold chains, hatcheries, and fishing harbors. This focus has propelled India to the global rank of second in fish production, witnessing a phenomenal 104 per cent increase in output, from 96 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 195 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. The launch event featured the inauguration of another 16 major fisheries projects (worth over ₹693 crores), designed to further boost employment, productivity, and exports in the sector.