'Upgrade dairy sector for growth'

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commision on Wednesday called upon the dairy sector to get organised to face global competition and adopt best practices to take on developed countries' dairy sector.

Speaking at the Indian Dairy Association's 34th dairy industry conference, he said that despite India being the largest producer of milk in the world producing 90 million tonnes, 70 per cent is coming from small farmers holding a few cattlestock.

"This component of small farmers should get organised, initiate and adopt productivity and quality measures for export market. To generate economic growth in rural areas, this is an ideal sector which needs policy focus and governmental attention for it is not a capital intensive sector," he added.

Welcoming suggestions by way of memorandums to be incorproated in the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), he said presently in India 26 states have diary co-operatives, there are 6,700 mobile vet units, 15 sperm banks, 45 frozen semen centres and 23 training institutes.

Animesh Banerjee, president, Indian Dairy Association said they will sign an MoU with East Southern Africa Dairy Association to propagate technology transfer and trade between eastern and soutern African countries and India.

Amrita Patel, chairman, NDDB delivered key note address on the occasion.