Need to raise bovine productivity, farmer income, says minister

India’s milk production rose by an average 4.2 per cent during the last 10 years, but there is a need to boost productivity of bovine population to raise per capita milk availability and farmers’ income, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Tuesday.
 
He asked dairy companies to set up milk producers' firms around 100-150 km of metros for smooth supply of milk and to cut transportation cost.
 
Addressing a stakeholder conference on the dairy sector, Singh said: “Our average growth has been 4.2 per cent in milk production during the last 10 years as against a global average of 2.2 per cent. In 2015-16, the growth was even higher at 6.7 per cent.”

 

The country’s milk production stood at 155.5 million tonnes last fiscal.
 
The per capita availability has increased to 337 gm per day from 130 gram at the time of Independence, he said, adding that the target is to raise it to 500 gram per day by 2022.
 
In order to double farmers’ income by 2022, Singh said the focus needs to be given to allied activities like dairy, fisheries and horticulture.
 
The minister also spoke about the challenge from climate change on milk production, but said indigenous breeds will be least effected by global warming.
 

Singh said the indigenous breeds are robust and have strength to bear climate change.
 
Stating that productivity of indigenous cows is less, the minister said there is a need to raise productivity of indigenous breed in the wake of climate change.
 
Singh asked dairy companies like Amul and Mother Dairy to review whether the increase in retail milk prices is passed on to farmers.
 
He suggested that the dairy companies should procure milk from 100-200 km of big cities like the national capital region, which will reduce transportation cost and help farmers from neighbouring states.