India’s Dairy Sector: Global Leadership and Transformative Growth
Context:
- India continues to hold the 1st position in global milk production, contributing nearly 25% of the world’s supply.
- The dairy sector contributes around 5% to India’s GDP, providing employment to over 8 crore farmers.
- Over the past decade, milk production has increased by 63.56%, reflecting significant sectoral growth and productivity improvement.
Trends and Developments in India’s Dairy Sector:
1. Rising Production:
- Milk production increased from 146.3 million tonnes (MT) in 2014–15 to 239.3 MT in 2023–24, at an annual growth rate of 5.7%.
2. Per Capita Milk Supply:
- Availability per person rose by 48%, reaching 471 g/person/day, well above the world average of 322 g/person/day.
3. Bovine Productivity:
- Productivity of cattle increased by 27.39% (2014–22), the highest globally.
- Growth supported by initiatives such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which focuses on improving indigenous breeds.
4. Role of Women:
- Nearly 70% of the dairy workforce are women.
- Over 48,000 women-led dairy cooperatives strengthen inclusive growth and rural empowerment.
5. Technological Adoption:
- 565 lakh artificial insemination (AI) procedures and 38,000+ MAITRIs implemented.
- Advanced technologies such as IVF, sex-sorted semen, and progeny testing are modernising dairy genetics.
6. White Revolution 2.0:
- Aims to establish 75,000 new dairy cooperatives.
- Focuses on sustainability and scaling milk procurement to 1007 lakh kg/day by 2028–29.
Conclusion:
- India’s dairy sector is a cornerstone of rural livelihoods, nutrition security, and women’s empowerment.
- It exemplifies inclusive, technology-driven rural development and serves as a model for sustainable agricultural growth.
- Relevance for UPSC:
- GS-III (Economy & Agriculture): Agriculture, allied sectors, food security, cooperative movements.
- GS-II (Governance & Social Development): SHGs, women-led cooperatives, inclusive rural development.
- Essay & Ethics: Dairy as a case study of “Nutrition + Livelihood Security” and women’s empowerment.
Source : PIB
