Plan to raise India's milk production to 180 million tonnes in 12 years
30 Nov 2009
The National Dairy Plan prepared by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) envisages enhancing milk production in the country to 180 million tonnes by 2021-22.
The plan aims to enhance milk production through increased productivity, substantially strengthening and expanding the infrastructure for procurement, processing, marketing and quality assurance through existing institutional structures and by promoting new ones, and human resource development, minister of state for agriculture K V Thomas informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
The government has estimated an outlay of Rs17,371 crore for a period spanning 15 years, the minister said, adding that the government is considering World Bank aid to reduce the interest burden on beneficiaries.
According to the Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2008, the average daily milk production in the country was 2.09 kg per indigenous cow and 6.52 kg per crossbred cow in 2007-08.
To meet the projected demand of 180 million tonnes by 2021-22, average daily milk production per cattle would need to increase suitably, the minister added.