India’s dairy growth slows but global leadership intact; Minister eyes export push
Although the growth in milk has slowed over the years — 5.77% in 2021-22, 3.83% in 2022-23 — India continues to be the world’s largest producer.
Written by Harikishan Sharma
Milk production increased by 3.83 per cent in 2022-23 and 5.77 per cent in 2021-22. (File Photo)
India’s milk production increased by 3.78% to 239.30 million tonnes during 2023-24, while meat and egg rose 4.95% and 3.17% respectively, according to the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024 released Tuesday by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajeev Ranjan Singh.
Although the growth in milk has slowed over the years — 5.77% in 2021-22, 3.83% in 2022-23 — India continues to be the world’s largest producer. Speaking at the BAHS release, on the occasion of National Milk Day observed on November 26, Singh stressed the need to boost the export of dairy products.
MoS for Animal Husbandry S P Singh Baghel and MoS for Fisheries George Kurien were also present on the occasion, along with Animal Husbandry Secretary Alka Upadhyaya, Additional Secretary Varsha Joshi, and Jayen Mehta, MD of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, which markets dairy products under ‘Amul’ brand.
Meat production, the report said, grew 4.95%, and was estimated to reach 10.25 mt in 2023-24. The total wool production in the country was pegged at 33.69 million kg.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Singh asked dairy farmers to vaccinate their livestock. The government is making available free vaccines and foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis will be eradicated by 2030, he said, adding, “This will help enhance exports”.
MoS Baghel underlined the need for increasing the average milk yield per animal. Animal Husbandry Secretary Upadhyaya said India’s dairy sector has emerged as a world leader but still has a lot of potential.
Asked about the slow growth of milk, GCMMF MD Mehta said the average growth of last 10 years has been around 6%, more than the world’s average. Milk production depends on a lot of factors including monsoon, he said.
