Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges and Mitigation Strategies
Deepjyoti Roy1* and A K Chaturvedani2
1Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Veterinary Extension, FVAS, RGSC-BHU, Mirzapur (U.P.) 231001
2Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Extension, FVAS, RGSC-BHU, Mirzapur (U.P.) 231001
*Corresponding author e-mail ID: deepjyotiroyapsn@gmail.com
Abstract
As the world’s largest milk producer, India boasts a rich dairy history rooted in traditional agricultural practices involving buffaloes and cows. The modern era of Indian dairy began post-independence, particularly with Operation Flood in the 1970s, which propelled India to the forefront of global milk production. The industry’s structure comprises cooperative, private, and unorganized sectors, with cooperatives like AMUL playing a pivotal role. Despite its scale, the sector faces productivity challenges due to genetic limitations, inadequate nutrition, poor veterinary care, and climate change impacts. Addressing these requires a multi-faceted approach, including selective breeding, nutritional management, improved veterinary services, and infrastructure enhancements. Embracing technological innovations, sustainable practices, and supportive policies will be crucial for revitalizing the Indian dairy industry and ensuring its future growth and sustainability.
Keywords
Operation Flood, Cooperatives, Genetic limitations, Nutritional management, Technological innovations
Dairy farming in India-An introduction
Within the agricultural and rural economies of India, the dairy industry plays a crucial role. India is the world’s largest producer of milk, and its rich and varied dairy history is vital to millions of farmers’ livelihoods and greatly enhances the nutritional security of the country. India’s dairy business has its origins in the past, when agricultural techniques relied heavily on domesticated animals like buffaloes and cows. Indian food, culture, and religion have long placed an emphasis on milk and its derivatives. After independence, the Indian dairy industry started to take shape in the contemporary age, especially when Operation Flood was initiated in the 1970s (NDDB, 2024). India became the world’s greatest milk producer due to this project, which was led by Dr. Verghese Kurien, the father of the White Revolution. The emergence of cooperative dairy institutions, which gave small-scale farmers direct access to markets, fair pricing, and modern dairy farming practices, is credited with contributing to the success of the White Revolution.
The dairy sector in India is massive and scattered, with millions of smallholder farmers contributing to the nation’s milk supply. According to current estimates, the nation produced 230.58 million tonnes during 2022-23, accounting for 24.64 percent of the total milk produced worldwide securing India’s position as the world’s top producer of milk. Compared to the global average of 322 grams per day, India’s per capita availability of milk was 459 grams per day in 2022–2023 (BAHS, 2023). Cows and buffaloes are the main producers of milk, with buffalo milk accounting for a large share because of its greater fat content. India has a very high per capita milk consumption rate, which is indicative of the importance of dairy products to Indians’ daily diets with essentials including milk, yoghurt, ghee, butter, and a range of traditional sweets and fermented goods.
The dairy industry in India is divided into three primary sectors, viz. unorganized, private, and cooperative. The cooperative sector is the backbone of the business and is driven by companies like as Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL), which sources over 25.9 million litres of milk daily from 18600 village milk cooperative societies, 18 member unions that encompass 33 districts, and 3.64 million milk producer members (AMUL, 2024). These cooperatives are a component of a bigger system that ensures effective dairy product distribution, processing, and procurement. It is run by state federations and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). The need for value-added goods like cheese, paneer, flavoured milk, and dairy-based drinks has been driving the fast growth of the private sector, which is home to several regional and national businesses. Local suppliers and small-scale processors serving immediate and localized markets make up the unorganized industry.
Challenges faced by the Indian dairy industry and mitigation strategies
India is the world’s largest producer of milk, yet the productivity of its dairy animals remain relatively low compared to global standards. This can be attributed to a multitude of factors ranging from genetic issues to management practices. Addressing these challenges is critical to boosting the efficiency and profitability of the Indian dairy sector. Many indigenous cattle breeds in India are not high milk yielders. They are often dual-purpose, which inherently limits their milk production capabilities. Although crossbreeding programs have been implemented to improve the genetic potential of dairy animals, the results have been mixed due to inadequate implementation and lack of sustained efforts. Many dairy farmers in India rely on low-quality fodder and crop residues, which do not meet the nutritional needs of high-yielding dairy animals. There is often a lack of balanced rations, leading to deficiencies in essential nutrients that are crucial for milk production (Meena et al., 2016). Diseases such as mastitis, foot-and-mouth disease, and reproductive disorders are prevalent, leading to reduced productivity (Bharti et al., 2017). Access to timely and effective veterinary care is often limited, particularly in rural areas. Many dairy animals are kept in poor housing conditions that do not provide adequate comfort or hygiene. Improper milking techniques can lead to incomplete milking and increased susceptibility to infections like mastitis. The majority of dairy farmers in India operate on small landholdings, limiting their ability to invest in advanced dairy farming practices. Financial constraints often prevent farmers from adopting improved technologies and practices. The threat of also climate change also impacts the dairy industry. Rising temperatures have put 60% of dairy farms under stress worldwide (Habimana et al., 2023). The influence on grassland and fodder production systems is a significant contributor to heat stress in dairy cows. Rising global temperatures and heat waves are reducing agricultural yield and global food production (Ravichandran et al., 2019).
Enhancing the productivity of dairy animals in India requires a holistic approach that addresses the myriad challenges faced by the sector. To enhance the productivity of Indian dairy animals, a multi-faceted approach is required, addressing genetic, nutritional, health, management, and socio-economic aspects. Implementing robust selective breeding programs to enhance the genetic potential of indigenous breeds will help in these regard. Crossbreeding programmes must be strengthened to develop high-yielding hybrids that are adaptable to local circumstances, while also harnessing genomic selection and artificial insemination (AI) to speed genetic progress. Various breed development programmes have been initiated by the Indian Government for such goals. Promoting the use of balanced rations that meet the nutritional requirements of dairy animals while encouraging the cultivation and use of high-quality forage crops and silage is also necessary (Otte et al., 2012). Providing mineral and vitamin supplements to address specific deficiencies needs to be done (Samal and Pattanaik, 2014). Implementing regular vaccination and deworming programs to prevent common diseases. Improving access to veterinary services through mobile veterinary clinics and telemedicine and educating farmers on disease management, biosecurity measures, and the importance of regular health check-ups is important. Constructing better housing facilities that provide adequate ventilation, sanitation, and comfort needs to be followed using scientific techniques. Training farmers on hygienic and effective milking techniques to prevent mastitis and ensure complete milking need to be conducted on regular basis. Farmers should be encouraged to keep records on milk output, breeding, and health to help make better management decisions. Providing easier access to credit and financial services to enable farmers to invest in improved practices and technologies all the while strengthening extension services to disseminate knowledge and innovations in dairy farming for promoting the formation of cooperatives and dairy unions to provide collective bargaining power and access to markets is required. For managing the threat of heat stress, heat-tolerant genetic features and genomic selection for heat tolerance are long-term management options, while short-term measures may include altering the physical environment and controlling nutrition (Sesay, 2023). The genetic component of heat tolerance cannot be overlooked, and hence selection criteria must incorporate the discovery of heat tolerant genes (Bernabucci et al. 2014).
Way forward to revitalization
Growing urbanization and the middle class are creating a need for a wide variety of dairy products, creating opportunities for product diversification and innovation. Furthermore, farmers and business owners receive vital help from government programmes designed to expand the dairy industry, such as the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) Scheme and the National Dairy Plan among other such schemes. As Indian dairy products increasingly gain traction in international markets, export potential is also growing. Effective feeding programs, disease control, breeding strategies, and awareness campaigns can help address these challenges. Cooperative initiatives, support systems, and modern farming techniques like herd management software and automated milking systems can also enhance efficiency. Promoting continuous learning and innovation within the dairy farming community can lead to sustainable improvements. Advanced technologies like precision nutrition and genetic selection can further enhance the genetic potential of Indian dairy animals. Investing in research and development for improved breeding techniques and veterinary care is crucial. Collaborations between farmers, researchers, and policymakers can lead to innovative solutions. Continuous education and training programs for farmers can help them stay updated. Robust support networks and knowledge-sharing platforms can facilitate the exchange of ideas. Emphasizing sustainable and ethical farming practices, along with rigorous quality control measures, can improve the overall quality and market competitiveness of Indian dairy products. Investing in digital solutions for farm management and data analysis can revolutionize operations. Encouraging sustainable practices, waste management, and energy efficiency can lead to a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective dairy industry. Collaborating with governmental bodies to create policies supporting the growth of the dairy sector and ensuring fair trade practices is important. Embracing innovation and adapting to changing market demands will be key to the long-term success of Indian dairy farming. Implementing sustainable practices and exploring renewable energy sources can contribute to the environmental responsibility of dairy farming in India. Strengthening partnerships with industry stakeholders and agricultural organizations can foster a collaborative approach to address emerging challenges and opportunities. Prioritizing animal welfare and investing in state-of-the-art facilities can enhance the quality of products and ensure long-term sustainability and profitability. Investing in the welfare of dairy animals through proper healthcare and living conditions is paramount. Implementing monitoring systems and quality assurance protocols can help maintain standard. Integrating sustainable practices and embracing technological innovations like IoT (Internet of Things) devices for monitoring animal health and behaviour can lead to a more efficient, ethical, and environmentally conscious future. By leveraging data analytics and machine learning algorithms, dairy farmers can optimize their decision-making processes and improve efficiency. Implementing traceability systems and quality control measures can ensure the integrity and safety of dairy products. Encouraging collaboration between agricultural researchers and dairy farmers can lead to innovative solutions for sustainable farming practices and productivity enhancement. Embracing technological advancements in precision agriculture and remote monitoring can revolutionize operations, promoting greater sustainability and profitability.
Conclusion
The dairy industry is a cornerstone of India’s agricultural and rural economy, providing livelihoods for millions of farmers and ensuring nutritional security across the nation. Despite being the world’s largest milk producer, the sector faces challenges like low productivity due to genetic limitations, poor nutrition, inadequate veterinary care, and the impacts of climate change. Enhancing dairy productivity necessitates a comprehensive approach, including selective breeding, improved nutritional practices, better animal health management, and infrastructure improvements. By adopting modern technologies, sustainable practices, and supportive policies, and fostering cooperation among stakeholders, India can significantly boost its dairy sector’s efficiency, sustainability, and profitability.
References
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