India ranks first among the world’s milk producing nations

Demand of milk in the country is expected to reach upto 150
million tonnes by the end of year 2016-17 and upto 210
million tonnes by 2021-22. The dairy sector has grown
substantially over the years. As a result of prudent policy
intervention, India ranks first among the world’s milk
producing nations, achieving an annual output of 145 million
tonnes (Provisional) during the year 2014-15 as compared
to 137.68 million tonnes during 2013-14 recording a growth
of 5.32 per cent. The anticipated milk production in the
country for the year 2015-16 is about 148 million tonnes.
This represents a sustained growth in the availability of
milk and milk products for growing population.
Dairying has become an important secondary source of
income for millions of rural families and has assumed the
most important role in providing employment and income
generating opportunities particularly for women and
marginal farmers. The per capita availability of milk was at
a level of 302 grams per day during the year 2013-14,
which was more than the world average of 294 grams per
day. Most of the milk in the country is produced by small,
marginal farmers and landless labours. About 15.46 million
farmers have been brought under the ambit of 1,62,186
village level dairy corporative societies upto March 2014.
The cooperative milk unions procured an average of 39.2
million kg of milk per day during the year 2014-15 as
compared to 34.2 million kg in the previous year