'Milk production needs to be increased'
Last Updated : 31 Jul 2011 09:29:26 AM IST
CHENNAI: Despite being the highest producer of milk in the world, if the productivity is not increased soon, India might well face an internal shortage and have to import the commodity.Lt Gen Dr Narayan Mohanty, president of the Veterinary Council of India, said the yearly growth in demand (6 million tonnes) far exceeds the current growth in milk production per year (3.5 million tonnes).Speaking at a meet organized by the alumni association of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) here, he said demand for milk is increasing day by day.“Due to faster economic growth, increase in population and health consciousness, the demand for milk has risen considerably,” said Mohanty. Milk production needs to be increased about 5.5 per cent per year, he added.“The productivity (milk produced) per animal is very poor. It is about 987 kg per lactation which is well below the global average of 2,038 kgs per lactation,” said Mohanty. Ineffective breeding, poor veterinary facilities, lack of quality fodder and improper management are the reasons for the shortfall in production, he said. India has a production output of 112 million tonnes of milk annually, according to the latest Economic Survey. There is a ray of hope as the livestock sector has not shown any decline in growth unlike the agriculture sector. “Livestock contributes to approximately 6 per cent of the GDP. An overall growth of 6-7 per cent is predicted per annum over the next five years in this sector,” Mohanty said.
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