India has claimed its position as the top milk producing country in the world, contributing a massive 24% of global milk production in the year 2021-22.
A Dairying Giant Rises
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), India has recorded a 51% increase in milk production in the last eight years, culminating in a massive 22 crore tonnes of milk produced in 2021-22. This feat places India as the milk capital of the world, outpacing its competitors.
Supporting Our Farmers, Strengthening Our Dairy Industry
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying runs various schemes to support its farmer members, including financially weaker farmers in the dairy sector. The National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), launched in 2014, aims at enhancing the quality of milk and milk products and increasing the share of organized procurement, processing, value addition, and marketing. In July 2021, NPDD was restructured with the goal of achieving even higher quality milk and milk products, as well as a greater share of organized procurement, processing, value addition, and marketing.
Ensuring Adequate Feed and Fodder
The National Livestock Mission, Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development is another scheme aimed at increasing the availability of feed and fodder for India’s livestock. The department is implementing various schemes to supplement the efforts of states and union territories for the promotion and development of animal husbandry and dairying sector, including the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund, Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations, Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, and Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey.
Rising to the Top
The implementation of these schemes has resulted in a significant increase in milk production in the country. Milk production rose from 146.31 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 221.1 million tonnes in 2021-22, an increase of 6.38% per annum in the last eight years. The output value of milk in 2021-22 was over Rs. 9.32 lakh crore, higher than agriculture produce and surpassing the combined value of paddy and wheat. Egg production in the country has also seen a growth, rising from 78.48 billion in 2014-15 to 129.53 billion in 2021-22, growing at a rate of 8% per annum.
A Promising Future for India’s Dairy Industry
India’s rise to the top as the world’s leading milk producer is a testament to the hard work and dedication of its farmers and the support provided by the government through its various schemes. With a promising future ahead, India is well on its way to establishing itself as a dairy superpower, meeting the demands of a growing population and solidifying its place as the milk capital of the world.
