National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Chairman T Nanda Kumar has exhorted stakeholders to take all necessary steps for scaling up milk production as the country's demand for milk has been estimated at 155 million tonnes (MT) by 2016-17.
"All our initiatives need to be scaled up, so that a large number of milk producers are covered. The country's estimated demand for milk is likely to be above 155 MT by 2016-17, and around 200 MT by 2021-22," Kumar said during his inaugural speech at a seminar-cum-workshop.
The event was on 'Convergence of Productivity Enhancement Activities to Meet Future Demand of Milk and Milk Products' at NDDB premises in Anand, according to a press release issued here today.
"To meet the growing demand, there is a need to increase annual incremental milk production from 4 MT per year during the past ten years to 7.8 MT in the next eight years, to bring production upto 210 MT by 2012-22," said Kumar.
Also, present during the event were Union Government's Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry Anup Kumar Thakur and NDDB Managing Director Dilip Rath, among others.
Thakur laid emphasis on the need for indigenous breed development and ensuring adequate fodder for cows to meet rising milk demand in India.
He also asked participants to utilise NDDB's Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH).
