September 3, 2014
India needs to increase milk production by 7.8 million tonnes
India must increase the average incremental milk production from 4 million tonnes in the last decade to 7.8 million tonnes in the next eight years to meet growing demand, according to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
India's estimated demand for milk is expected to be about 155 million tonnes by 2016-17 and 200 million tonnes in 2021-22, said NDDB Chairman T Nanda. He said the ongoing National Dairy Plan (NDP) is a scientifically planned multi-state initiative to increase productivity of milch animals and thereby increase milk production to meet the rapidly growing demand.
The first phase of NDP is focussing on 14 major milk producing states, which account for more than 90% of the country's milk production, over 87% of the breedable cattle and buffalo population and, and 98% of the country's fodder resources.