India ranks first among the world's milk producing nations since 1998 and accounts for about 17% of the cattle population and 64% of the buffalo population. However, there is a great need to increase the productivity of our milch cattle. This was stated by Union agriculture minister, Radha Mohan Singh while addressing the first meeting of newly constituted Parliamentary Consultative Committee here today.
The new Government in this field, he informed that the milk production in India has reached 137.6 million tons in 2013-14 as compared to 17 million tons in 1950-51. During the last five years, the rate of increase in milk production has remained at 4.2% which is higher than the growth rate of population. As a result, per capita availability of milk which was 130gm per day during 1950-51 has increased to 302gm per day during 2013-14 which is more than 186gm estimated for Asia and the world average of 294gm. About 60% Indian farmers are small and marginal, who collectively own almost 75% of the female bovines but only 40% of farmland. Shri Radha Mohan Singh underlined the need for tapping the potential of indigenous breed of cows.
He informed that Government of India has started Rashtriya Gokul Mission with the objective of enhancing the milk production and productivity of indigenous bovines, as also to distribute the disease-free, high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds for natural service. During the current year, the provision of Rs 1.50 billion has been made for this mission, Singh informed.
Radha Mohan Singh listened to the suggestions of the members and assured them that he would take necessary steps towards implementation of the same within the policy framework.
Giriraj Singh raised the issue of making strategy to remove the dearth of green fodder. He also desired that Government should take steps to decide the milk pricing policy and also equal priority to cross-breeding of animals. The other issues raised by him included marketing facility for cow products, vaccination of cattle on regular basis, simplification of procedure for loan by institutes like NABARD and Milk Credit Card at minimum rate of interest, setting up Gobar Bank and steps to improve the condition of semen bank.
