Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said India is emerging as a leader in milk production and also underlined the importance of dairy farming in the agricultural economy.
Singh said the country witnessed total milk production of 163.7 million tonnes worth over Rs 4 lakh crore in 2016-17.
The minister, who was speaking at the Pashu Arogya Mela in Motihari, Bihar, also said India has 30 crore bovines, which is 18 per cent of the total bovine population of the world.
"The country's indigenous bovine is the result of traditional and scientific knowledge and hardwork of hundreds of years," an official statement said quoting Singh.
He said that indigenous animals are more suitable for the country, particularly for climate and environment of their reproductive areas.
The agriculture minister said that in 2015-16, total milk production in Bihar was 8.29 million metric tonnes, which was 5.33 per cent of the country's output.
Noting that Bihar has 6.67 per cent of the country's total cattle population, Singh said," Therefore, there is a need to increase milk production and productivity in the state."
The minister also said that Rs 67 crore has been allocated to Bihar under Rashtriya Gokul Mission and this scheme will help in increasing milk production and milk productivity in the region.
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