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Milk production across India has grown at a rate of about 19 per cent during the five-year period of 2006-10 and crossed 121 million tonnes (mt) as of 2010-11.
However, despite being the largest milk producer in the world, per capita milk availability in India at 252 grams falls below the global average of 279 grams per person per day, according to a study titled ‘Unlocking the growth potential of Indian dairy industry,’ conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).
New Zealand (9,773 grams), Ireland (3,260 grams) and Denmark (2,411 grams) are the top three countries in terms of per-capita milk availability.
The study states that Andhra Pradesh (AP) recorded the highest growth rate of over 41 per cent and about 36 per cent in terms of milk production and per-capita milk availability respectively during the aforesaid period. The state ranked third in terms of annual milk production with over 1.1 mt.
Apart from AP, Rajasthan (28 per cent), Kerala (24.8 per cent), Karnataka (24 per cent) and Gujarat (23.7 per cent) are amid the top five states in terms of clocking high growth in milk production.
Uttar Pradesh commands the highest share of over 17 per cent in total milk production followed by Rajasthan (11 per cent share), Andhra Pradesh (nine per cent), Punjab (about eight per cent) and Gujarat (about eight per cent), which are amid the top five states with a combined share of over 53 per cent.
According to the study, it is imperative for India’s dairy industry to streamline its value chain processes and integrate the small dairy producers into the processing value chain to improve the overall performance of the industry.
“Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over four per cent, milk production in India is expected to rise to about 177 mt by 2019-2020 and that would help in meeting the projected demand of 150 mt by 2016-17 that has been envisaged in the National Dairy Plan Phase-1,” Assocham secretary general, DS Rawat, who released the study, stated in a press release on Tuesday.
The study highlights the increase in the income level of an average Indian is being accompanied by a change in the food basket as the monthly per-capita consumption expenditure on milk and milk products in both rural and urban areas has grown significantly at about 92 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.
