The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Shri Giriraj Singh addressed entrepreneurs, milk producer farmers, academia and media on the occasion of National Milk Day-2019 at Pusa in New Delhi. Addressing the august gathering Shri Singh thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for protecting interest of 10 crore farmers by not joining Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He said that Prime Minister has always given the prime importance to the betterment of “Gaon Gareeb Kisaan” and RCEP was not in favor of farmers (Kisaan).
Singh stated that milk production has increased significantly from 137.7 million tonnes in 2014 to 187.75 million tonnes in 2019, thereby indicating an increase by 36 per cent. Similarly, the per capita availability of milk increased from 307 grams in 2014 to 394 grams in 2019. Annual growth rate of Milk Production during the period 2009-14 was 4.2 per cent, which has increased to 6.4 per cent during 2014-19. The Union Minister added that India is the ray of hope of the global dairy industry with opportunities galore for the entrepreneurs globally. Since last 20 years, India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world.
About 70 million rural households are engaged in dairying in India with 80 per cent of total cow population. During the last 15 years, Milk Cooperatives have converted about 20 per cent of milk procured into traditional and value-added products that offers about 20 per cent higher revenue. This share of value-added products is estimated to increase to 40 per cent by 2024.
Minister of State Pratap Chandra Sarangi said that technology should be harnessed properly for improvement of the sector overall. He said that breed improvement can be done with innovative ways. He also said that policies should be made favorably to ensure both quality and quantity of domestic production, consumption and exports can be improved. The Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying emphasized that Government has initiated a number of dairy development schemes in order to meet enhanced demand of milk through domestic sources with a new initaitive: “National Animal Disease Control Program (NADCP)” with an allocation $1.9billion for complete control of Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis. The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program fwas also launched by the Prime Minister along with Start-up challenges. The Department is also working on convergence of schemes with the schemes of other Departments and Ministries so as to help double farmers’ income.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
