Dairy Production in India - Existing Scenario and Future Prospects

Abstract

Dairy production in India, which has seen great increase over the post-independence period, has grown into a thriving enterprise; thanks to the policy decisions related to systematic breeding, improved feeding and superior health care management over the period. These positives notwithstanding, the system is confronting some of the major constraints that hinder inclusive development of the dairy sector in the country. Apart from low productivity of the animals, there are many other problems like, large human and livestock population and its pressure on land, degraded pasture lands, shortage of feed ingredients and fodders, which need to be targeted. While the agricultural sector is witnessing a kind of stagnation or a decline in growth rate in areas where the green revolution earlier brought a new dawn for human survival against hunger and malnutrition, the dairy sector is showing a better promise.