Blitz Bureau
THE Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission for development and conservation of indigenous breeds and genetic upgradation of bovine population in order to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines.
In addition, it is implementing the following dairy development schemes across the country to complement and supplement the efforts for creation and strengthening of procurement and milk processing infrastructure:
National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)
Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organisations engaged in dairy activities (SDCFPO)
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)
Dairy cooperative
These interventions help to expand the coverage of dairy cooperative across the country and also achieve objective of increasing cooperative sector milk procurement to 1,007 lakh kg/day by 2028-29. As on date, 2.35 lakh dairy cooperative societies have been established/strengthened across the country. The production of milk in 2023-24 is 239.30 million metric tonnes, which is 63.56 per cent over the last 10 years.
This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha recently.
While giving details of the milk production, per capita availability and sale in Karnataka and the manner in which this can be compared with major dairying states in the country for the year 2023-24, the reply mentioned that the data for consumption of milk is not available with the department.
However, it said, the department had conducted a study on demand of milk and milk product in India under National Dairy Plan Phase-I (NDP-I) scheme. As per the study the estimated total consumption at the all-India level in 2019 (including household and non-residential consumption) was 162.4 million metric tonnes for milk and milk products.
Proactive KMF
The DAHD is implementing these schemes to increase coverage of dairy cooperatives across the country, including Karnataka. Further, The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has been proactive in expanding its network of dairy cooperative societies. The following are action taken by KMF: Between 2013-14 and 2023-24, the average milk procurement increased from about 51.61 lakh kilogram per day to about 82.98 LKgPD.
During the current year (2024-25), under KMF, about 15,888 dairy cooperative societies (covering 24,000 villages) are functioning. There have been awareness and training Initiatives to strengthen dairy operations, particularly in northern Karnataka, through awareness programmes focused on quality aimed to educate farmers and cooperative members on best practices to improve both milk quality and production efficiency. This expansion has enhanced milk procurement and provided remunerative prices to dairy farmers.
