Low Productivity of Indian Dairy Animals: Challenges & Mitigation Strategies
| Dr.S Gangu Naidu M.V.Sc., Ph.D Assistant Professor College of Veterinary Science, SVVU, Garividi-535101 Email: gangunaidu14@gmail.com Phone: 9440855867 |
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India ranked first in the world’s milk production rankings for 2021–2022, accounting for 24.64% of the total milk output produced worldwide. India makes up 15% of the world’s total livestock population, of which 105 million buffaloes (or 57.3%) and 200 million cattle (or 14.7%) constitute total cattle. With a 3.6% (13.7%) GDP contribution from agriculture, the dairy industry serves as a supplementary source of income for 70 million rural households. The dairy industry benefits further from greater consumer demand relative to India’s milk production growth rate. The number of women (4.38 million) participating in dairy cooperatives nationwide is rising annually.
Dr. Verghese Kurien, the man behind “India’s White Revolution,” established the National Dairy Development Board in Anand to ensure the smooth operation of the dairy industry in India, ultimately making India the world’s largest milk producer.
The main engine of the Indian dairy industry is the Operation Flood program, which lowers seasonal and regional pricing variations and provides the best prices to producers and consumers by implementing best practices throughout the country’s dairy farming systems, mostly by doing away with middlemen. This gave rise to the “White Revolution,” a gift that helped change the dairy industry in India by uniting farmers into cooperative societies around the country.
| Facts about the Dairying in India year: | |
| The global milk production | 24.64% ( 140bn litres a year) |
| Demand growing | 4.5% year on year |
| India’s gross domestic produce | 4.2% (2020) |
| The women involvement | 4.38 million |
| Milk production total buffaloes | 57.3% |
| Participation of Rural households | 80 million |
| Crossbred cattle | 29.91 % |
| Indigenous Cattle | 20.17% |
| Buffaloes | 45.07% |
| Exotic Cows | 1.92% |
| Goats | 2.93% |
In India, the majority of dairy farmers are rural households (75%), who typically raise two to four cows. Dairy production is integrated into the farming system rather than being a stand-alone business. These animals are mostly fed agricultural wastes, and cow excrement is a valuable source of manure for farming systems. While agriculture only yields income during certain seasons, dairying offers a consistent source of income. The dairy industry accounts for almost one-third of rural incomes. In times of crisis, livestock can also be sold as a security asset.
Difficulties in the Dairy Sector:
The issues with milk production, collection at village level, and at processing till the consumer. Since the dairy industry was founded, numerous issues have been identified; some have been resolved, while others remain unresolved to this day. The industry was still in danger because of these issues. Among them are:
- Poor feeding practices:
Since agriculture and the dairy industry have been intertwined since the dawn of civilization, if agriculture is alive, the dairy industry is also alive. The majority of farmers use inferior agricultural byproducts, such as wheat and rice straw, to feed their cattle. Maize is a more nutritious cereal crop that has been cultivated in India in recent times, after wheat and rice. Additionally, an effort should be made to raise the caliber of the local resources and provide farmers with fresh technical guidance on how to use agricultural wastes. In order to supply high-quality feed at more affordable pricing, supply the manufactured feed through the cooperative sector. The cropping pattern should change to generate enough green and dry fodder to suit the local needs of cattle population and to encourage the farmer to produce fodder commercially.
Numerous National and state government initiatives have been put into place up until this point to improve the quality of both feed and fodder. In order to address the issues of animal feed and fodder resource scarcity, the National Livestock Mission (NLM) currently operates the “Feed and Fodder Development” Sub-Mission. This mission focuses on increasing the production and productivity of feed and fodder through the adoption of improved and appropriate technologies that are best suited to a particular agroclimatic region in both arable and non-arable areas. In fact, despite notable advancements in dairy production, it is extremely concerning that the substantial augmentation of fodder supplies is not occurring.
In India, the use of mechanized harvesters for rice and wheat crops is on the rise, which results in the waste of straw. To address this, the MG-NREGA scheme was implemented centrally to support agricultural operations. Operation Flood helped the dairy industry become strong enough to meet local demand for milk production back then, but it now faces many more challenges, such as the high cost of feed components and a severe labor shortage. Building local fodder banks and feed mills in the area is especially important.
- Animals with low genetic potential:
Low averages are the result of both low selection intensity and insufficient efforts to improve native breeds through within-breed selection Appropriate nutrition did not support the genetic improvement programs, which used cross-breeding to increase productivity. Animals that are underfed usually do not express their genetic potential for increased output. One of the reasons the goals of the breeding program have not been achieved is also the lack of such support.
According to DAHDF (2018) the milk production:
| Species | Average Milk Yield |
| Indigenous breeds | 3.41 kg/cow/day |
| Non-descript cattle | 2.29 kg/cow/day |
| Cross-bred cattle | 7.33 kg/cow/day |
| Exotic cows | 10.93 kg/cow/day |
| Milking buffalo | 5.92 kg/day |
- Limited access to institutional finance:Farmers in the dairy industry, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society, will be provided with subsidized loans to help with calf rearing and cattle nutrition during dry seasons.4.Lack of cold storage facilities: Causes of farmers’, food processors’, and logisticians’ ignorance of the advantages of cold chain and cold storage. The high expense of developing and maintaining cold storage facilities in India prevents new businesses from entering this market. inadequate equipment, frequent power outages, and a labor force lacking in expertise. Food waste results from vehicle malfunctions and improper packaging while delivering packaged items that are sensitive to temperature.
5.Uptrend of Land Cost:The rapidly increasing urbanization and real estate sector in India have driven up land costs, which has resulted in significant capital investments that have not kept pace with the returns from dairying.
6. Scarcity in the grazing land:As a result of industrial growth, the amount of grazing area is significantly decreasing annually, which results in a shortage of feeds and fodder to fulfill demand. Village people are allowed to graze in forest areas while grazing regulations are in place. Grazing, however, need to be determined by carrying capacity, and the Gram Sabha will make this decision after consulting with the forest officer. Take care not to overgraze, as this degrades the forest’s forage supply. As a result, policies implemented.
7.Indian dairy industry is unorganized:
Approximately 52% of the total milk produced in rural regions is surplus milk that can be sold. Of this surplus less than half of the milk sold is handled by the organized sector comprising of dairy cooperatives and private dairy companies and the rest by the unorganized sector. Here we need more attention to create awareness on hygiene and clean milk production.
8.Removal of import duty has led to the threat of dumping:
The most important agricultural commodity nowadays is milk and milk products. India has the ability to rise to the top of the milk and milk product export league. In 2012–13, we exported $583 million worth of skim milk. Mother Dairy, Nestle, Amul, and Britannia are the main competitors.
Given the state of the world economy, we are quite wary of the possibility that the home industry may require some protection. The Central Government’s judgment regarding the Indian dairy industry and milk product manufacturers, in light of the challenge posed by low-cost imports as a result of these goods’ declining global pricing.
- Building the required infrastructure and promoting clean milk production:
To build and reinforce the cold chain infrastructure that connects the farmer to the end user as well as the infrastructure required for the production of high-quality milk.In addition to strengthening dairy cooperative societies and producers companies at the village level, the relevant group will receive training on milk processing and marketing.
Cattle owners provide their animals with the necessary protection to improve clean milk production, but this leaves the animals vulnerable to inclement weather. The unsanitary conditions in the cow barns and milking parlors lead to mastitis. Because milk is produced in an unsanitary manner, it deteriorates and loses quality when stored.
- Insufficient facilities for animal health care:
The establishment of the Council on Veterinary Education in India is encouraging for the dairy industry as it would allow veterinary care to reach outlying areas. However, in order to further enhance services for the farming sector, it should be a mobile door-step service. To boost milk output, door-to-door veterinarian services and cattle insurance programs for the current herd are required. - Employment opportunities:
For an estimated 27.6 million people, the dairy industry is their primary source of income. In this sector, 65–70% of farmers are tiny, marginal, landless, and have little financial resources. Millions of farmers will be able to take advantage of the new opportunities and significantly raise rural earnings with the help of a well-developed sector.
- Nutrient supply:
Dairy is a vital area for investment since it has the potential to significantly enhance women’s empowerment, nutrition, and rural earnings.
13.Low potential for greenhouse gas emissions from milk:
The primary limitation in ruminant agriculture is the generation of methane gas, which is somewhat lower in dairying animals. When compared to the production of meat, milk production is more environmentally friendly. Mutton produces 11.9 times as much greenhouse gas (GHG) per unit of production as milk; the net GHG of mutton is 482.5 g, compared to 29.2 g for milk.
- Training and Guidance:
Comprehensive education and training programs on excellent dairy practices could lead to the development of safe dairy sector products; however, for this to occur, they need to be participatory. Education and training are essential in this regard if all of the staff members are to understand what they are doing and have a sense of ownership. - Poor returns:
Unlike the other twenty-four primary agricultural commodities in the nation, such as rice and wheat, milk does not have a Minimum Support Price. Furthermore, tiny farmers or those without land do not favor dairy industry cooperatives. The cooperatives implement a fat-based pricing strategy, with prices that are 20–30% lower than those found on the free market.
- Green Dairy Initiatives:
Another way to generate revenue is to set up medium-sized plants in rural India with subsidies in order to produce biogas on a large scale from cow poo. This is a great way to utilize abundant resources.Another effort to support the expanding dairy industry is the creation of integrated communal dairy hostels. In addition to lowering operating costs, the plan lays the path for the efficient use of solar energy, improving the pasteurization and processing efficiency in dairies and bulk milk coolers.
- National Dairy Development Programs:
India is the world’s top milk producer, and a number of dairy development programs have been put into place in partnership with state governments to help meet local milk demand. The National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), one of these initiatives, is based entirely on grants-in-aid for all of its dairy-strengthening components. The National Livestock Mission (NLM), a Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development, seeks to encourage entrepreneurs to establish fodder Blocks, Hey Bailings, or Silage Making Units through incentives and to strengthen the fodder seed chain to improve availability of certified fodder seed needed for fodder production. Additionally, in order to reduce straw waste and promote economic sustainability, agricultural operations must be linked to programs like the MG-NREGA Scheme. Provide subsided feed through co-operative system to the economically poor farmers.
Conclusion:
Cooperative banks and other national banks should take the lead in supporting the growth of the dairy industry by providing farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers, with significant lending facilities. The program for artificial insemination will function more effectively if a veterinarian service center is established. Furthermore, regular delivery of reasonably priced veterinarian services to farmers’ doors is necessary. Expanding primary cooperatives for the purchase of milk to areas where the local market cannot handle the quantity of milk is a good idea. It is time to simplify the organizational support provided by the cooperative sector to milk producers. Take necessary action to lessen the impact of a middleman as the middleman took advantage of the farmers in the dairy business.
Governments must assist farmers in the dairy industry by offering subsidies, fair prices, and market infrastructure. It should be possible to set up businesses in value-added marketplaces for whey, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. Farmers in the dairy industry need to be given access to a stable market and a competitive price for their milk. When establishing price, quantity of milk should take precedence over fat content.
The demand for animal products is rising quickly right now, and boosting livestock productivity and production is desperately needed to keep up with this demand. In order to make up for the lack of fodder and shed space in rural India, policies need to be strengthened and alternative solutions need to be investigated. Focus should be on attaining the sustainable development goal while taking an agroecosystem-specific approach and considering the interface between soil, plants, animals, and humans.
| “Eight hours for dairy,
Eight hours for family and Eight hours for sleep” – Dr. Verghese Kurien In light of this, Dr. Verghese Kurien’s proverb aids those who work with dairying in developing a deeper psychological understanding of society. In addition, because they work out regularly and get enough sleep, they are healthier and have more time to spend with their families. So, this will benefit the economic and wellness of individual as well as our country. . |
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