CHALLENGES IN DAIRY SECTOR IN INDIA
Indian scriptures abound in virtues of cow starting from Kamdhenu to the exploits of Lord Srikrishna as a cowboy. Hindus worshiped cow as Gomata and consider it as a prized possession and harbinger of wealth. Despite this veneration farmers are poor and dairy farming was not considered as having potential for large scale economic growth and as an agent of reformation in social order. By and large it remained low key sector in overall planning since independence. That it could be counted as a giant, in its own tight, as one of the major industries and market player did not dawn until lately in spite of the success story of AMUL. Had dairy business been groomed properly with state patronage, post-independence, it could have blossomed into a burgeoning enterprise by now. Sadly this did not happen in many states with dairy farmers remaining lot poorer. However, with success of AMUL, thanks to late Dr.Verghese Kurien, the man behind ‘WHITE REVOLUTION’ and innovator of milk cooperatives concept, country could know that dairy business has the potential to grow and bring about economic empowerment of rural India. Dr. Kurien sowed seed for economic emancipation of thousands peasants with proverbial ‘GOMATA’ at the centre stage. The valuable time lost to realize it will never be back again.
We have to look back to history to draw inspiration. Rome was not built in one day. Everyone is happy to quote this quotable quote to encourage people with pessimistic attitude. So far success of dairy business has been a mixed bag. India has been blessed with a particular group of people – the YADAVS- who claim to be descendents of mythological king Yadu, are traditionally pastoral communities, spread over many states in India. Traditionally Yadavs in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and Ahirs of the Hindi belt and the Gavil of Maharashtra and called by other names in many states are prominent pastoral castes. Traditionally these groups were linked to cattle rearing and milk business though they have now spilled over to participate in more prestigious occupations including active politics yet the seed in their soul which makes them proud. This block was not targeted to use cattle and buffalo population – the largest in the world – for gainful occupation unlike fishermen of Kerala or Tamil Nadu. They only needed a little honing up of their traditional knowledge. The administration could have ignited their mind with modern animal husbandry practice and dairy technology and monetary incentive.
Livestock sector as a sub-sector of Agriculture holds great promise as it requires low capital investment, low operating cost, a short cycle and steady income. Dairying fits into all these operating scales in rural households as a tool for socio-economic development and livelihood option. There are many other attributes of dairy farming for human wellness and the soil as well.
Challenges Faced By the Indian Dairy Sector:
India has its own system of milk production and marketing/consumption from time immemorial and consumes its dairy products at home. The consumer market is expansive and growing. Though India is the highest milk producer in the world Its presence in the world dairy business market is insignificant in comparison to much smaller countries like New Zealand or Scandinavian countries and the US. Question is what ails the dairy sector as a whole in India because of which it could not catapult as a big market player despite its resources. It may not be out of place to say that Animal Husbandry being a state subject was never considered as a livelihood option in the larger interest of state policy for most of the Five Year Plans. This apart following may be considered as challenges faced by the dairy sector presently.
- Shortage of feed and fodder
Primarily India with the largest population of cattle and buffalo and having climbed to the top of milk producing countries is burdened with vast number of unproductive animals who bite into the resources of an average animal farmer. They also consume feed and fodder otherwise could have been available to more productive animals. Governments in their intent to industrialize the country have gradually and rapidly have given away grazing lands to industrialists resulting in shortage of feed and fodder for the already famished livestock population. Besides, poor quality of forage to dairy cattle without any quality control mechanism in place has affected the animal production system. There is an old adage ‘Milk is in the mouth of a cow’. It means when fed well the yield will also be good. Small and marginal farmers owning about 80% of the livestock population across all species engaged in dairy development with low purchasing power cannot afford to balance the inadequacies in feed for the high lactating animals. Furthermore high cost feeding reduces the profitability of their low profile enterprise. The current deficit in fodder and green fodder can be overcome through a robust drive for fodder cultivation in states where farmers do not grow green fodder and pasture development. These are challenges faced in less developed states.
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/challenges-and-oppertunites-of-dairy-sector-of-india/
- Breeding:
Like feed and fodder genetically improved cows and buffaloes are a MUST for higher production who should mature early to become mothers. Unfortunately most of the native cattle breed late which has been acquired in a time of few centuries due to lack of knowledge in scientific breeding. This is coupled by effective detection of heat symptoms by the cattle owners. It is more markedly in regions where herds are reared by open range system particularly tribal areas. If cows miss an oestrus cycle, inter calving period increases affecting overall production of the herd in the long run. Anemia also leads to anoestrus besides other reproductive disorders. In addition farmers do not know that deficiency of minerals, hormones and vitamins deficiency influence breeding performance and can cause infertility problems. Modern gadgets have been devised to detect heat in herds. This technology can be introduced in large private farms. Economic diseases like Foot & Mouth Disease and brucellosis should be effectively controlled to minimize monetary loss. Crossbred male calves are largely unwanted. To obviate this problem sex assorted semen to produce female calves can be used but it is not practiced widely now.
- Education and Training
Though literacy level amongst people has gone up yet there is no commensurate knowledge development. As knowledge is considered as the fountain of POWER training programmes on good dairy practices could result in production of safe dairy products and reduction in loss. It can bestow a sense of ownership. Training programmes should be dovetailed to a vibrant extension service by the line department of the governments and respective universities. This major input to the dairy sector is lacking at grass root level.
- Animal Health Service
It should be major of intervention for any entrepreneurship involving livestock. India is plagued with deficient in modern animal health service at grass root level. The draft rules framed by the Veterinary Council of India for good veterinary practice can boost the existing infrastructure across India. Prevention is better than cure. We all know about it. Therefore, vaccination of animals should be the priority against schedule diseases including theileiosis. Parasitic worms kill calves when they are young. Therefore, regular deworming protocol should forma part of animal health management schedule. At the same repeated use of same anthelmintic should be avoided to minimize drug resistance. Tick control is another concern which needs attention too. Mastitis a disease of great importance in dairy herds must be contained by good hygienic practice and continuous monitoring. Allopathic drugs for animal practice have gone exorbitantly high which a farmer cannot afford. Ethno-veterinary is the alternative choice – a challenge for the practitioners.
- Housing Housing of animals and hygiene around the byres is a critical component. Khattals in suburban area of cities where most of the farmers dwell to do milk business will give a grim picture. This is a major challenge across small and marginal farmers. Food safety cannot be assured at its source. The problem can be surmounted by a scheme akin to Pradhan Mantri Abash Yojona for housing the animals. Their number may be comparatively small.
- Diversification of milk trade and value addition
It is an age of innovation to survive in a competitive world. Marketing of milk and milk products may not be remunerative all the times as it is linked to demand and market fluctuations. Take the example of Sundarban Cooperative Milk & Livestock Producers’ Union Ltd. Other Milk Producers’ Societies should learn from their experience to great advantage’. Value addition increases the shelf life and adds to income. AMUL has become marketing giant dairy business because it has changed with time and market mood to satisfy the consumers’ need with quality items. Success of AMUL has percolated down to the producers and helped them to tide over financial crisis.
- Dairying as a source of income
As per Situation Assessment Survey (2013) it was estimated that dairying is a supplementary source of income for almost half of the agricultural households. As per another estimate contribution from Animal farming in an agricultural household grew from 4% to 12% whereas income from other sources declined.
- Dairy Cooperatives
Animal farmers are largely unorganized and as such have no political clout to bargain in their behalf. The concept of dairy cooperatives was conceived by late Tribhubandas Patel and ably executed Dr. Kurien to make farmers become more organized. The role model of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation became a role model for other states to emulate under the aegis of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) of which Dr. Kurien was the founder Chairman. Karnataka Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation is the second best India. Such cooperatives are buffers for the farmers during crisis. Cooperative Milk Marketing Federations in several states are functioning reasonably well. However, in certain states it functions as wing of state Animal Husbandry Department with full bureaucratic control in management and has failed to gain farmers’ confidence. In some cases such federations declined to collect milk to the duress of farmers which led to them to spill milk on the roads during current Corona pandemic. The epic achievement of Dr. Kurien to convert buffalo milk into milk powder has saved many farmers becoming poorer during glut season.
- Livestock Insurance
Livestock are considered as mobile bank on foot. They are subject to vagaries of nature and diseases. Farmers in rural areas are by and large unaware of livestock insurance. Even if some people know about it are reluctant to buy a policy for their productive animals – mainstay of family income in many households. This obstacle has to be overcome by persuasion and dissemination of awareness.
- Marketing
All entrepreneurs need a robust marketing and management wing to survive in business. So do the dairy cooperatives. Milk producers Cooperative Marketing Federations have been able to market milk and dairy products in India and abroad. India’s major export destinations of dairy products are Bangladesh, Middle East countries, the US and Egypt. Skimmed milk powder, casein, ghee and butter and whole milk powder are important export products. Dr. Kurien successfully ended the monopoly of Nestles and Polson in the field of dairy business in India.
- Management specialists and technical manpower
There is an appreciable shortage of management and technical professionals in India. It is time to bridge gap to carry forward dairy business.
- Adoption of new technologies
Adoption of new technologies and computerization to determine fat content, SNF, and to detect adulteration will help in creation of data banks could be the latest challenge. If adopted it will enhance farmers’ confidence in federalism and minimize overhead expenses and help in quality control. Flow of information will be quicker for the benefit of farmers.
A recent report on crisis of india’s dairy sector speaks, a stable market, better pricing and uninterrupted supply of feed and reliable veterinary services will pave a way to meet the challenges in Indian dairy sector. Undoubtedly the number of dairy farmers are reducing with increasing innovation and shifting to industrialization. To conclude, I quote Dr. Kurien, we must share risks as well as rewards and we must be willing to finance the investments necessary to build international markets. threre is no other way.
https://www.franchiseindia.com/wellness/challenges-faced-by-the-indian-dairy-sector.11159
Dr. Simanta Kumar Nanda, M. V. Sc.,
Sub-divisional Veterinary Officer, Koraput (Odisha)
Mob- 9937500810
Email Id-drsimantkumarnanda@gmail.com
