India has solidified its position as the world’s largest milk producer, maintaining this rank since 1998 and now contributing an impressive 25% of global milk production.
Over the past decade, milk production in India surged by 63.56%, growing from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 to a remarkable 239.2 million tonnes in 2023-24. This reflects an annual growth rate of 5.7%, outpacing the global average of just 2%.
The increase in per capita milk availability, which rose by 48% in the last ten years, further highlights this success. Indians now enjoy over 471 grams per person per day, significantly surpassing the global average of 322 grams.
To support this growth, the government has implemented several forward-thinking schemes:
- National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) focuses on quality milk testing and chilling infrastructure for cooperative and producer organizations.
- Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organizations (SDCFPO) offers financial relief during market disruptions.
- Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) provides loans for projects enhancing processing, breed improvement, and waste management.
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) emphasizes indigenous breed conservation and productivity enhancement.
- National Livestock Mission (NLM) and Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) address breed improvement and disease control, respectively.
Moreover, the government actively promotes milk’s nutritional benefits through social media campaigns, making it a staple of healthy living for millions.
Union Minister of State, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, shared these updates in the Lok Sabha, underscoring the impact of these efforts on India’s dairy sector.
