Milk production has grown at an average annual growth rate of 6.3 per cent per year in the last 6 years, much higher than the world average, stated Union Minister Giriraj Singh.
Singh, who chaired a virtual programme organised on the occasion of World Milk Day, said India’s milk production grew at 6.3 per cent per annum, whereas world milk production is growing at the rate of 1.5 per cent per year. “Per capita availability of milk has increased from 307 grams per person per day in 2013-14 to 406 grams per person per day in 2019-2020 that is 32.24 per cent.”
Meanwhile, Union Minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, Singh stated that India is a global leader amongst dairying nations and produced 198.4 million tonnes of milk during 2019-20. The value of output of milk is more than Rs 7.72 lakh crore during 2018-19 at current prices which is more than the value of output of wheat and paddy together.
Singh further stated the dairy sector provides livelihood support to eight crore dairy farmers engaged in dairying mainly small and marginal and landless labourers. The dairy cooperatives of the country have the singular distinction of providing 75 per cent of their sales, on the average, to the farmers.
Over two crore dairy farmers organised into dairy cooperatives and there are 1.94 lakh Dairy Cooperative Societies collecting milk from milk potential villages.
The event was virtually attended by farmers, members of dairy federations, dairy co-operatives, research scholars, administrators and others. The inaugural programme was followed by a technical session on ‘Role of Breed Improvement Technologies in Genetic Up-gradation Programme’, many eminent experts and scientists participated in the session.