At current production levels, India continues to top the list of the major milk-producing countries in the world followed by the USA, China, Pakistan and Brazil.
Sharing the latest overall milk production data at National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal in Haryana on Tuesday, the Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh, however, rued that though India recorded substantial increase in milk production in 2014-15 as compared to 2013-14 (up by nearly 6.3% as compared to global average of 2.2% increase during the year), the milk productivity (production per animal) in the country was far less as compared to those in developed dairy nations.
«We have been able to provide on an average 302 gm per person per day milk which is more than the minimum quantity recommended by the World Health Organisation,» Singh said after releasing two recently developed technologies by the NDRI for the differentiation of cow and buffalo butter/ghee and for the differentiation of milk of cow, buffalo, goat, sheep and camel.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN, India currently accounts for nearly 16% of total world milk production. However, India is not among the highest milk surplus countries due to huge domestic demand and less productivity.
Noting the efforts which are being made in the country to further increase milk production and productivity, the minister said, «A new initiative, National Gokul Mission, has been launched for the preservation of indigenous cow breeds», adding, «a sum of Rs 550 crore has been released for 29 proposals from 27 states by December, 2015.»
Noting the efforts which are being made in the country to further increase milk production and productivity, the minister said, «A new initiative, National Gokul Mission, has been launched for the preservation of indigenous cow breeds», adding, «a sum of Rs 550 crore has been released for 29 proposals from 27 states by December, 2015.»
Source: The Times of India