India’s dairy growth slows but global leadership intact; Minister eyes export push

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.

According to the report, “Milk production from exotic/ crossbred cattle has increased by 8% and indigenous/ non-descript cattle has increased by 44.76% in 2023-24 as compared to the previous year.” However, it noted, “milk production from buffaloes has however decreased by 16%.”

The total egg production increased by 3.17% to 142.77 billion in 2023-24, said the report. “The per-capita availability of eggs is 103 eggs per annum,” it added. India is the world’s 2nd largest in egg production.

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.

Singh also conferred the National Gopal Ratna Awards (one of the highest in livestock and dairy sector).