India is the first, accounting for a 24 pc contribution to global milk production

Over the past eight years (2014-15 and 2021-22), milk production in India has increased by 51% and will reach 220 million tonnes in 2021-22.

Fisheries, Livestock, and Dairy Minister Parshottam Rupala told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday that India was the world’s largest milk producer, accounting for 24% of global milk production in 2021- 22.

“According to production data of Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), India is the highest milk producer in the world contributing twenty-four percent of global milk production in the year 2021-22,” the minister said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

He added that milk production in India had increased by 51% over the past eight years (2014-15 and 2021-22) and would increase to 220 million tonnes in 2021-22.

The Minister also said that the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy has put in place various programs for the benefit of farmer members, including economically weaker farmers in the dairy industry.

In addition, the National Dairy Industry Development Program aims to improve the quality of milk and dairy products and increase the share of organized sourcing, processing, value addition, and marketing.

The NPDD was launched in February 2014, combining three existing programs – the Intensive Dairy Development Program, Strengthening Infrastructure for High-Quality Clean Milk Production, and Support for Cooperatives.

In July 2021, the NPDD was restructured to improve the quality of milk and dairy products and increase the organization’s share of purchasing, processing, value addition, and marketing; implementation from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

“National Livestock Mission, Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development is a separate scheme aiming to increase the availability of fodder and feed,” Rupala told the Lower House.

Rupala also said the department is implementing various programs to complement the efforts of states and federal territories to promote and develop animal husbandry and the dairy industry across the country, including the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), the National Dairy Development Program (NPDD), Development Fund for Dairy Processing and Infrastructure (DIDF), Support for Dairy Cooperatives and Agricultural Producer Organizations (SDCFPO) involved in dairy activities, National Livestock Mission (NLM), Fund Livestock Infrastructure Development Plan (AHIDF), Livestock Health and Disease Control Plan (LH and DCP) (which merged the former Livestock Health and Disease Control Plan and the National Livestock of Animal Diseases 2021-2022) and Livestock Census and Integrated Sample Survey (LC and ISS).

Following the implementation of these programs by the ministry, the country’s milk production increased from 146.31 million tons in 2014-2015 to 221.1 million tons, the minister said.

“Million Tonnes in 2021-22 i.e. by 6.38 percent per annum during the last 8 years. The value of the output of milk is more than Rs. 9.32 lakh crore during 2021-22 which is higher than the agriculture produces and even more than the combined value of paddy and wheat. Egg production in the country has increased from 78.48 billion in 2014-15 to 129.53 billion in 2021-22. Egg production in the country is growing at the rate of 8 percent per annum,” Rupala added.