Boosting Dairy Animal Productivity in India: Addressing Challenges and Implementing Effective Mitigation Strategies
Shivika Gupta1, Shivangi Tripathi2, Abhishek Verma2, Aman Kumar Singh2, Ankit Shukla2, Mohd Hasan2
1PhD Scholar, Department of Veterinary Medicine, DUVASU, Mathura
2MVSc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Medicine, DUVASU, Mathura
Presenting Author- Shivika Gupta
email: shivikagupta975@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
India, with its rich agricultural heritage, stands as one of the world’s largest dairy producers. However, despite its vast bovine population, the productivity of Indian dairy animals often falls short of global standards. The Indian dairy sector is not just about milk; it’s a dynamic ecosystem intertwined with the nation’s cultural fabric and economic resilience. With over 80% of dairy farms classified as small-scale or backyard operations, the sector serves as a lifeline for rural communities, providing employment, income, and social stability. The Indian dairy sector stands at the cusp of transformation, poised to harness its inherent strengths and overcome prevailing challenges. With strategic interventions, investments in technology, and policy support, India’s dairy industry can continue to thrive, catering to the nutritional needs of its population while contributing to economic growth and rural livelihoods.
Keywords: India, dairy, milk
INTRODUCTION
India’s dairy sector is one of the largest in the world, contributing significantly to the country’s economy and livelihoods of millions. However, despite its vast potential, the productivity of Indian dairy animals remains relatively low compared to global standards. India’s burgeoning population, urbanization, rising incomes, and changing dietary preferences have fueled a surge in dairy consumption. The Government initiative Operation Flood (1970-96) contributed significantly, which eventually led to White Revolution. From being a country of acute milk shortage to the world’s largest milk producer, the Indian Dairy industry has come a long way. The Indian Dairy market stood at USD 130 Billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 300 Billion by 2027, driven by both volume and value terms.
Production and Consumption of Milk in India
India is the largest milk producer, contributing to a 24% share in global milk production with 221.06 million tonnes of production as of 2021-2022 (2).The Milk productivity in India is low due to poor quality feed & fodder availability, improper infrastructure, poor healthcare, and disease management. The top 5 milk-producing states, Rajasthan (15%), Uttar Pradesh (15%), Madhya Pradesh (9%), Gujarat (8%), and Andhra Pradesh (7%), contribute to more than 50% of the total milk production in India. According to the 20th Livestock Census (2019), there was 39% increase in crossbred female cattle, 10% indigenous female cattle, and the number of milch animals has increased by 6%. However, the total number of indigenous cattle has decreased during 2012 to 2019. India has 193.5 million cattle, 109.9 million buffaloes and 148.9 million goats. However, the milch population includes crossbred cattle (25.67 million), indigenous cattle (48.51 million), buffaloes (51.17 million) and goats (69.65 million).
Milk and dairy products are considered as a substantial source of protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients, making them an important part of the Indian diet, especially for vegetarians. Most of the milk produced is consumed fresh, and only 35% is processed. In the unorganized sector, much of that is converted into traditional products like cheese, ghee, cottage butter, khoya, curd, malai, etc. In three decades (the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s), the daily milk consumption in the country increased from 107 grams per person in 1970 to 444 grams per person in 2021-22 .
Challenges faced by the Indian dairy industry-
Despite being the top producer, India’s share of milk and India-share-of-Dairy-products-export-(in-MT) 2021-22 dairy products in global dairy export is less than 1% as compared to other exporters such as Germany (14.4%), New Zealand (12.9%), Belgium (7.6%), Netherlands (6.69%) and France (6.65%) (4). India faces tough competition with other global players regarding sanitary standards and certification difficulties, particularly in developed market.
- Genetic Limitations: Many indigenous breeds of Indian dairy animals have lower genetic potential for milk production compared to their international counterparts. This genetic limitation contributes significantly to the overall low productivity in the sector.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Inadequate nutrition is a significant challenge faced by dairy animals in India. Suboptimal feeding practices, lack of access to quality feed and fodder, and nutritional imbalances negatively impact milk production and reproductive efficiency.
- Health Issues: Dairy animals in India often suffer from various health issues, including infectious diseases, parasitic infections, and metabolic disorders. These health challenges not only reduce productivity but also increase production costs due to treatment and management expenses.
- Management Practices: Inefficient management practices, such as improper housing, substandard hygiene conditions, and inadequate healthcare facilities, further exacerbate the productivity challenges faced by Indian dairy animals.
- Safety and Quality issues: India faces quality issues due to contaminated water, milk adulteration, use of pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and veterinary drugs.
Mitigation Strategies:
- Genetic Improvement Programs: Implementing selective breeding programs to enhance the genetic potential of indigenous dairy breeds can significantly improve milk production. Cross-breeding with high-yielding exotic breeds and promoting superior genetic traits through artificial insemination are essential strategies in this regard.
- Enhanced Nutrition Management: Emphasizing proper nutrition management through balanced feed formulations, promoting high-yielding fodder crops, and improving access to quality feed supplements can address nutritional deficiencies and boost milk production.
- Disease Control and Health Management: Strengthening disease surveillance systems, implementing vaccination programs, and promoting good husbandry practices are crucial for preventing and controlling diseases in dairy animals. Additionally, providing timely veterinary care and adopting preventive healthcare measures can improve overall health and productivity.
- Improved Management Practices: Enhancing management practices through better housing infrastructure, implementing effective waste management systems, and promoting good hygiene practices can create a conducive environment for dairy animals to thrive and maximize their productivity.
CONLCUSION
India now needs to transform its dairy sector from subsistence to commercial/semi-commercial oriented sector. While promoting the commercialization and value addition of dairying, there shall be an obvious need to protect the interests of smallholder dairy producers. Addressing the challenges impeding the productivity of Indian dairy animals requires a holistic approach encompassing genetic improvement, enhanced nutrition management, disease control, and improved management practices. By implementing targeted mitigation strategies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, India can unlock the full potential of its dairy sector, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for farmers and the nation as a whole.
BIBLOGRAPHY
2.https://www.ibef.org/news/india-ranks-first-contributes-24-of-global-milk-production-govt-to-ls
4.https://www.nddb.coop/sites/default/files/pdfs/baseline/16_Roadmap_&_strategies_to_promote_dairy_products.pdf
