India Retains Status as World Leader in Milk Production
INDIA - In order to meet the rapidly growing demand for milk with a focus to improve milch animal productivity and increase milk production, the Government has also approved National Dairy Plan Phase-1(NDP-1) in February, 2012 with a total investment of about Rs. 2242 crore to be implemented upto 2016-17.
26 June 2013
1 minute read
The Indian dairy sector has acquired substantial growth momentum from 9th Plan onwards as a result of which the country now ranks first among the world's milk producing nations, achieving an annual output of about 130 million tonnes, reports Commodity Online.
This represents sustained growth in the availability of milk and milk products for our growing population. Dairying has become an important secondary source of income for millions of rural families and has assumed the most important role in providing employment and income generating opportunities particularly for marginal and women farmers.
The per capita availability of the milk has reached a level of 290 grams per day by the year 2012, which is more than the world average of 284 grams per day. Most of the milk in the country is produced by small, marginal farmers and landless labourers.
About 14.78 million farmers have been brought under the ambit of 1,48,965 village level dairy corporative societies up to March 2012. Farmers of marginal, small and semi-medium operational holdings (area less than four ha) own about 87.7 per cent of the livestock. India is endowed with the largest livestock population in the world. It accounts for about 57.3 per cent of the world's buffalo population and 14.7 per cent of the cattle population.
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