The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh said that the growth in dairy production is the result of dairy cooperative societies’ hard work. Singh said it at the launch of Coffee Table Book titled “50 Years – The Great Indian Milk Revolution” commemorating National Dairy Development Board’s (NDDB) Golden Jubilee year. Radha Mohan Singh also said that since 1998, the poor and marginal milk producers have worked hard to make the country world’s top milk producer. The success was not achieved overnight; it’s the result of milk producers’ constant efforts, support of committed professionals, and the vision and expertise of NDDB.
Singh also said that NDDB’s sustained efforts through Operation Flood and the present National Dairy plan helped the country’s dairy sector in maintaining a steady growth. There has been a marked increase in the contribution of livestock to agricultural GDP and livestock’s in the dairy sector. In terms of value, milk is the largest agricultural commodity in India.
Radha Mohan Singh also said that India’s milk production has crossed 155 million tonnes mark. This has resulted in the rise of per capita milk availability to about 337 gm/day. In the last two years, milk production grew at 6.5 % annually as against 4.5 % per annum in the previous 10 years, which is almost double as compared to the growth in milk production in the world. About 1.7 lakh dairy cooperatives are serving almost 15.8 million milk producers, one-third of them being women, across the country by providing them market access and input services, thereby strengthening their livelihoods.
