Punjab is the second highest milk producing state in India at 9.4 million tonnes per annum (25.8 million litres a day). Milk production is about nine per cent of the country's total of 108.5 million tonnes. However, the installed capacity of milk processing in the state is about 8.1 million litres only 31 per cent of production. Capacity utilisation of the milk plants is 75-80 per cent. The huge gap in processing infrastructure needs to be met by private and public sectors, says Nabard.
The quality of milch animals are declining in the state, it added, giving statistics. Moreover, average milk production per lactation per animal is relatively low, at 1,300 litres. Efforts are being made in the state to enhance this to about 3,000 litres per lactation. To increase milk production among cows, semen and embryos of high genetic potential is being procured from different countries.
Punjab is targeting to become a dairy state during the 12th Five-Year Plan by establishing a large number of commercial hi-tech dairy farms. Nabard says adequate infrastructure for increasing milch population and backward and forward linkages in animal husbandry, including support services for milk procurement, chilling plants, milk processing and value, additions might bring about another white revolution.