India’s milk production is growing by 35.61% during the last six years to 198.4 million tonnes in 2019-20, says the Economic Survey.

“Milk production in the country has increased from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 198.4 million tonnes in 2019-20,” the survey said. Compared to 2018-19, it has increased by 5.70 percent according to the government data.

It also added that as per a study on the demand for milk conducted by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the estimated demand for 2030 at an all India level is 266.5 million metric tonnes for milk and milk products.

The rural sector has an estimated share of 57 per cent in the total consumption. The per capita consumption in the urban areas (592 ml) remains higher than the rural areas (404 ml) even in the 2030 projections.

Several measures have been initiated by the government to increase the productivity of livestock, which has resulted in increasing the milk production significantly, it said. India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world.

The annual growth rate of milk production was 6.27 per cent during 2014-15, thereafter, there was a steady increase. In 2019-20, milk production increased by 5.68 per cent as compared to the previous year.

The per capita availability of milk was 407 grams per day in 2019-20.

Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab continued to be the major milk producing states.

Source : The Economic Times Jan 29,2021 by Madhvi Sally