Central Government Targets 254.5 MT of Milk production by 2022

Pashu Sandesh, 17th December 2019

In a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, MoS for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Krishna Raj elaborated upon the plans of NDA government to achieve target of 254.5 MT Milk production by 2022 under National action plan for Dairy Development. Currently the Annual production of Milk as per the Government stands at 176.35 MT.

In order to enhance milk production and productivity in the country following steps has been undertaken by Government of India : 

1) Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Initiated to promote indigenous breeds across the country, enhancing milk production and productivity of indigenous bovine breeds and thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers. Major steps undertaken under the scheme are as under:
i) Conservation of Indigenous Breeds
ii) Breed Improvement by Modern Technology
iii) Awareness Program:
iv) Enhancement of Production and Productivity
v) Extension of Artificial Insemination (AI) Coverage

2) National Dairy Plan-I a world Bank assisted project being implemented in 18 major dairy States with aim of enhancing milk production and productivity in order to meet demand of milk in the country. The programme has a focus on development and conservation of 12 indigenous breeds namely Gir, Tharparkar, Rathi, Kankrej, Hariana and Sahiwal cattle breeds and Murrah, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri, Jaffarabadi and Mehsana buffalo breeds are covered under the scheme. 

3) Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan: Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan is being undertaken to extend the AI coverage in 112 aspiration districts of the country. Artificial Insemination using high yielding Indigenous Breed Semen (HYIB) is being carried out in these districts with an aim to produce high yielding female calves. 

It is ironical that on the one hand Government is trying to increase the Milk production on one hand and on the other it has no data on the demand and supply gap on the Milk production in the country as evident from the reply given by the minister in an answer to the related question. Government is under assumption that most of the Milk which is produced in the country is largely consumed in the country. At the outset increase in production is good but it should not create imbalance in the demand and supply which would be very detrimental to the procurement prices of the Milk.