Page 6 - Dairy Dimension - Jan

| Volume 1 | Issue 2 | Jan-Feb 2025 ARTICLE | Volume 1 | Issue 2 | Jan-Feb 2025

limited access to training for women hinder its full Projected to surpass 250 million tonnes by 2025, India's supply chains, improved veterinary services, and the Crossbred cow milk
potential. Empowering women and marginalized dairy industry can achieve its ambitious targets through positive impacts of government programs like the 800 772 0.18
smallholders is essential to unlocking the sector's strategic interventions and equitable resource Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Rising urban and export 750 0.16
economic and social benefits. distribution. demand for value-added dairy products further supports 700 0.14
0.12
Challenges: Persistent Barriers to Growth The decline in growth observed during 2022 and 2023 this optimistic outlook. 650 0.1
600
The Indian dairy sector faces numerous hurdles that can plausibly be attributed to lingering impacts of the Dairy Dimension connected with dairy experts with 550 0.08
0.06
threaten its growth trajectory: mobility restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 waves more than 2 decades of experience in Indian dairy 500 5.7% 0.04
· Low Productivity: Suboptimal yields continue to in India. These restrictions disrupted critical cattle segment to understand their outlook on the survey, 450 0.02
constrain efficiency. breeding phases due to the following factors: 400 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 0

· Feed and Fodder Scarcity: Quality feed shortages 1. Limited Veterinary Services: Restricted movement led Milk prodn (lakh MT) Y-o-Y Growth rate (%) Expon. (Y-o-Y Growth rate (%)
compromise livestock health and output. to reduced access to veterinary care, impacting Indigenous cow milk 499.1
livestock health and productivity. 500 0.09
· Climate Vulnerabilities: Erratic weather patterns 480 0.08
exacerbate risks to livestock and fodder production. 2. Feed Supply Chain Disruptions: Mobility restrictions 460 7.0%
caused challenges in the availability and 440 0.07
· Disease Impact: Outbreaks like Lumpy Skin Disease transportation of feed and fodder, adversely affecting 420 0.06
disrupt productivity. livestock nutrition. 400 0.05
380
· Infrastructure Deficits: Gaps in cold storage, 3. Breeding Program Delays: Artificial insemination and 360 0.04
transportation, and processing facilities impede Dr. S Rajeshwaran 340 0.03
320
market access. other breeding programs faced delays, reducing the Dr Waran's Livestock 300 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 0.02
number of productive cattle.
· Economic Instability: Fluctuating feed costs and Projected Recovery Management Consultancy Milk prodn (lakh MT) Growth rate (%) Expon. (Growth rate (%)
volatile global dairy prices create financial uncertainty Crossbred cows, which produced 33% of the milk in
for smallholders. As the effects of COVID-19 subside and normalcy 2023-24 (up from 27.5% in 2016-17), also showed a steep
Demand-Supply Imbalances: Navigating a Looming returns: below are the excerpts: decline in the growth rate of total production, with only a
Crisis · Improved Veterinary Services: Resumption of Do you believe India's dairy sector is prepared to 5.7% increase in 2023-24. There is little hope for
Rising demand, fuelled by population growth, uninterrupted veterinary care and breeding address the projected demand-supply gap? improvement ahead, as hybrid vigour is no longer
urbanization, and shifting dietary preferences, threatens programs can enhance cattle health and productivity. No. India's dairy sector is not prepared to address the present to drive higher productivity.
to outpace production. Key drivers include: · Supply Chain Stabilization: Restored feed and projected demand-supply gap as the government and its Indian cows have shown a flat growth rate, contributing

· Urbanization: Increased consumption of value- fodder supplies will support livestock recovery. development and research institutions responsible for 22% of the total milk produced by bovine animals in
added products like cheese and yogurt. · Delayed Breeding Results: Breeding cycles affected “developing” this sector have not even acknowledged the 2023-24.
reducing growth rate in milk production. Despite data a
· Health Trends: Growing preference for fortified dairy during the pandemic are likely to yield improved medium- to long-term downtrend in the growth rate of What are the critical steps that would sustain the
products and milk-based proteins. production outcomes in the upcoming two years. milk production by buffaloes and crossbred cows, the Indian dairy sector?
· Export Pressures: Rising global demand adds strain Thus, a recovery in milk production growth can demand is growing due to rising per capita income, a 1. The figures analyzed for buffaloes include the total of
to domestic supply chains. reasonably be expected over the next two years growing middle-income population, and urbanization. 17 recognized breeds, while the figures for
Failure to align production with demand risks price Milk Production Growth Growth Rate (Line) These factors lead to fewer people owning dairy animals indigenous cows encompass 47 recognized breeds.
inflation, reduced accessibility, and potential Rates (2017-2025) 1st Wave Restrictions (Mar-May 2020) and a net milk deficit at the individual household level. Therefore, granular data at the individual breed level
2nd Wave Restrictions (Apr-Jun 2021)
dependency on imports. Growth Rate (Bar) The growth rate of milk production by buffaloes in 2023- for each state is required to better understand both
Projected Rate (Bar)
Future Outlook: A Strategic Path Forward 24 was only 1.1%. This downtrend has resulted in the the challenges and opportunities ahead.
6
To secure its leadership and sustain growth, the Indian 5 proportion of buffalo milk to total milk production from 2. The declining growth rate in total milk production
dairy sector must prioritize: 4 the three types of bovines decreasing over the past 7 and productivity indicates that the large-scale AI

· Boosting Productivity: Leverage advanced breeding Growth Rate (%) years, from 51% in 2016-17 to 45% in 2023-24. program using frozen semen, along with the use of
techniques and enhanced animal nutrition. 3 sexed semen from a few bulls specifically selected for
· Infrastructure Investments: Develop robust cold 2 1050 Buffalo milk 2024 0.08 crossbred animals by professionals, has been
ineffective. Milk production by crossbred cows will
storage and processing facilities to minimize wastage. 1 0.07 not be the solution for increasing milk production in
· Disease Management: Strengthen veterinary 0 2018 2020 2022 2024 1000 0.06 the future.
0.05
services and implement preventive measures. Year 950 0.04 3. Therefore, each state government needs to conduct
· Value Chain Innovations: Employ technology for (2024–2025), barring any other disruptive factors. 900 0.03 a similar analysis of the growth trends in milk
0.02
traceability and quality assurance. The projected recovery in milk production growth for 850 1.1% 0.01 production by its locally recognized buffalo breeds
· Policy Support: Increase funding for research and 2024 and 2025 stems from the normalization of 0 and indigenous cows, independently.
promote sustainable practices. breeding cycles disrupted by COVID-19, stabilization of 800 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 -0.01 4. Each state government should engage in discussions
Milk prodn (lakh MT) Y-o-Y Growth rate (%) Linear (Y-o-Y Growth rate (%)

06 07