Spare a sob for spilled milk

• The population of indigenous cows, which provide better quality milk than crossbred ones, has dropped by 12.26 per cent from 1997

• Only 8 million tonnes of feed are produced per year in the organised sector, against a requirement of 120 million tonnes

• Permanent pastures have dwindled to 3.6 per cent of the country’s geographical area

• Fodder crops are grown only in 4.8 per cent of the cultivable land

A study conducted by D K Jain, R C Nagpal and N Balaraman of the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, on the basis of 2002 data, indicates that little effort is going into improving the lot of dairy farmers even as policymakers go into overdrive on food security.

Noting that a scheme for setting up a venture capital fund for rural beneficiaries seemed to be shelved, the study notes that dairy farmers are allotted a nominal Rs 250 million in the 10th Plan. Also worrying is the imminent enforcement of the product patent regime on January 1, 2005, under which all dairy products and processes—including micro-organisms and shelf life-enhancing microbial processes—can be patented.

However, despite these odds, experts believe the country’s milk output will go up from an estimated 92.23 million tonnes in 2004 to 93.96 million tonnes in 2005, 114.05 million tonnes in 2010, 138.42 million tonnes in 2015 and 168.01 million tonnes in 2020.

Their hopes hinges on the fact that India accounts for nearly 20 per cent of the world’s bovine population. India ranks first in cattle and buffalo, second in goat and third in sheep population.