Dairy a harbinger to double farmers income in India

Abstract

Dairying, has always been the prime occupation and source of livelihood for families in rural India. And its share to national economy is more than any other agri product. It is also an important source of nutritional supplement, more so for new born and pregnant lactating mothers. Indian farmers actually earn 27.3 % of their income from dairy related activities. This is even more important for the landless, small and marginal farmers. Though the average milk production has been steadily increasing from 21 MMT in 1968 to 78 MMT in 2000 to 155 MMT in 2015. Much of it has been possible because of the Operation flood initiated by the Government of India. But, even with all this, the per capita milk production has not seen any significant rise, as the productivity of animals is much below what is seen in many other countries. Another area of concern, is the share of milk produced in the organised sector and the unorganised sector, which is in the ratio of 20 :80. Agriculture per se is suffering from the various vagaries of nature such as drought, lack of seeds, fertilizers, inadequate market, insufficient purchase price and so on, and in this milieu dairy has a dominant role to play so as to support and supplant the loss to the farmer. Government on the other hand has declared that by 2022, they would ensure that farmers income would be doubled, thereby indicating that there is even greater important role for dairy to play. In this study, I have deliberated on all the issues that would lead to the increase in production and also the productivity of milk. Improving Milk Productivity of Animals Animal Breeding Activities Animal Nutrition Activities Fodder Development Activities Animal Health Management and Disease Control Strengthening of Cooperatives Training and Dairy Extension Activities ICT intervention in Dairy Interventions at Policy level