The government targets to increase milk production by over 3 per cent to 116.2 million tonnes in this financial year to match the demand and supply of the vital food item, Parliament was informed today.
The government has set a target to produce 116.2 million tonnes of milk in 2010-11 against 112.5 million tonnes in the previous year, an increase by 3.6 million tonnes, Minister of State for Agriculture Arun Yadav said in a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Efforts are being made to boost milk production in main producing states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to achieve the goal, he said quoting from figures of State/UT Animal Husbandry Departments.
Emphasis has also been accorded to raise milk production in eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam.
Experts feel that the Eastern states have "untapped" milk production potential which need to be exploited to boost volume of milk in the country.
Concerned over the slow pace of milk production, the Economic Survey had last week commented that annual rise of milk production by about 4 million tonnes was not adequate, considering the surging demand and had recommended that the production must increase by 5.5 per cent annually over the next 12 years to bridge the gap.
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It had warned that India, which presently is the biggest milk-producer in the world, might turn out to be a net importer of milk if domestic production is not enhanced.
The survey had estimated that by 2020-21, the country would require 180 million tonnes of milk.