LPT 311: Milk and Milk Products Technology (1+1)

CURRENT STATUS OF DAIRYING IN INDIA: AN OVERVIEW

India is transforming in to a to a developed country, while rural dairying happens to be an integral and interwoven part of the traditionally diversified system of agricultural farming. India is predominantly agriculture based country with more than 70% involved in agriculture.

India can take pride in some of its major achievements in the field of dairying since 1971, as under:

• India holds number one position in its annual milk production among the other countries of the world.The country’s total milk production has gone up from 21 million tons in the early seventies to over 120 million tones i.e., almost six folds, raising thereby the daily per capita milk consumption from 107gms to 240gms. India has the highest annual growth rate of around 5-6% in milk production unmatched by any country of the dairy world. Especially with respect to buffalo milk production, India remains first at the world level.
• Operation flood programmes viz phase I/ II/ and III launched by NDDB, has brought out remarkable multi-directional progress and achievements in the dairy field in several parts of the country during its three phases of operation. Dr. V. Kurein, Former Chairman, NDDB, Anand, ‘affectionately referred as father of white revolution was the chief architect. The great success lies with co-ordinate assistance and support of the central, state governments, ICAR and concerned developmental agencies, dairy institutions, allied R & D organizations and by the active participation of millions of rural milk producers.

On the other hand

• India holds 12% of the cattle population of the world, but contributes only about 11.5% to the annual world milk production.
• Though India has attained first position in world milk production, the average milk productivity per milch cow falls far below than what has been achieved by the developed dairy countries of the world.
• The per capita milk consumption figure of India has reached a level of 240gm which is still below the ICMR recommendations of 280 g.