Trace the evolution of Dairy Development in India – Essay

Milk is primarily obtained from buffaloes and cows but to some from goat and sheep also.

The Dairy Development in India has played a major role in increasing milk production. But inspite of the large bovine stock, our total milk production is very low in comparison to some of the advanced countries.

This is due to the low yield of milk per animal which is the result of poor quality of livestock in India but there has been about five fold increase in the milk production after a few decades and now India is the largest producer of milk in the world, this change in the production of milk has come through concerted efforts made by the center and state governments.

The milk production which was almost stagnant between 1947 and 1970 with annual growth rate of merely one percent has since then registered a vigorous growth rate at an average rate of 4.5 per annum. This is the result of White Revolution and Operation Flood which initiated in 1970 under which National Dairy Development Programme was under taken in 10 states. The operation flood- I which was started in 1970 also included setting up of 17 feeders/balancing diaries, expansion of existing diaries and setting up of 4 mother dairies at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Operation Flood-II which started during 1980-85 aimed at organizing milk marketing in more than 140 cities, proper provision for fodder to feed the milch animals, control on animal diseases, improving the breeds and providing facilities to the milkmen. The operation Flood-Ill which began during 1985-94 aimed at setting up 170 milk centers to benefit 250 districts in 22 states.

The operation flood programme is the world’s largest integrated diary development programme has made considerable progress in achieving the objective of milk production and Dr. Varghese Kurien is the pioneer of operation flood in India.

An another programme Integrated Dairy Development projects in Non-operation Flood, for hilly and backward areas was also launched during the Eighth Plan. Under the programme 100% grant-in-aids has been converted into a centrally sponsored scheme from 2000-01.

The government of India has also notified the milk and Milk product order on 9 June 1992 and per the provisions of this order, any person diary plant handling more than 10,000 liters per day of milk or 500 MT of milk solid perineum; need to be registered with the registered authority appointed by the central government.

This Dairy Development has played a major role in increasing milk production, improving the nutritional standards of the people, generating employment opportunities, improving income levels in rural areas especially for small and marginal farmers.

The Indian Dairy Industry has also acquired substantial growth during the eighth plan and now it has achieved over 90 million tonnes of milk as annual output. This has placed the overall Dairy Development has made sound impact on rural masses and has encouraged them to take up dairying as subsidiary occupation. It has offered a reliable and regular source of income to marginal, small and landless farmers.