India continues to be the largest milk producing nation, according to the report of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for 2010-11.
The country?s estimated milk production for the period stood at 121 million tonne (mt), close to 17% of the world?s total produce.
During the year, dairy cooperatives collected 9.6 mt of milk, a growth of about 1% over the last year. Liquid milk marketing by cooperatives increased by around 4% over the previous year and was about 8.2 mt in
2010-11.
Amrita Patel, chairman of NDDB, said, ?Higher GDP growth, increased incomes in rural areas thanks to schemes like MGNREGA, and a growing population are among major reasons for this rapidly growing demand for milk.?
?Now the only way to cope with this increasing demand is to have a scientific approach, that is improve genetic potential of milch animals and feed them a balanced diet to ensure they produce milk commensurate with their genetic potential. Regarding this, NDDB has prepared a multi-state initiative titled National Dairy Plan (NDP) with a 15-year horizon,? she said, adding, ?NDP-I has
already been appraised by the World Bank and approval for the same is expected shortly.?
The first phase of NDP is proposed to extend over a period of six years and envisages an investment of around R2,000 crore for activities ranging from having bulls of high genetic merit for disease-free quality semen to delivery of artificial insemination (AI) service at farmers? doorsteps in line with prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to services like ear-tagging of animals and proving training.
The project is proposed to be carried out by End Implementing Agencies (EIAs) along with State Cooperative Dairy Federations, District Cooperative Milk Producers? Unions, producer companies and State Livestock Development Boards.
The same will be done in states that have agreed to put in place the necessary regulatory and policy measures to create an enabling environment for the successful implementation of the project.
Additional funding for activities that are commercial in nature, such as plants for milk processing and manufacture of cattle feed, is being explored with the International Finance Corporation.
