World Dairy Summit 2022 and India’s Dairy Sector

Recently, Prime Minister inaugurated the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.

Image Source - Krishi Jagran

International Dairy Federation is the leading source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders of the dairy chain.

Since 1903, IDF's network of dairy experts has provided a mechanism for the dairy sector to reach a global consensus on how to help feed the world with safe and sustainable dairy products.

Principal High Points of the Summit

• Theme “Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood”.
• Under the "Animal Base" program, biometric identification of animals is being carried out with the use of contemporary technology.
• Every animal connected to the dairy industry is being tagged as India creates the largest database of dairy animals.
• In the past five to six years, more than 1,000 startups have opened in the dairy and agricultural industries.

Data on the dairy business in India

• India consists of around 23% of the world's milk.
• With its 210 million tonnes of annual production, and supports 8 crores, dairy farmers.
• The country's total dairy production is worth roughly Rs 8.5 lakh crore, which is higher than the value of paddy and wheat taken together.

Characteristics of the Indian dairy sector

• Small farmers provide the most to this industry.
• A vast network of cooperative dairy farms span 2 lakh villages and involves 2 crore farmers.
• In this arrangement, there are no middlemen; more than 70% of the money that buyers pay goes straight to the farmers.
• localized species that can withstand hostile environments.
• It is a distinctive quality of the Indian dairy industry. In this industry, women make up approximately 70% of the workforce.
• 8 billion families depend on this sector for their livelihood.

Challenges Faced By the Indian Dairy Sector

• New regulations: The dairy business faces serious challenges and threats from plant-based products, dairy substitutes, and adulteration. The Food Safety Requirements Authority of India recently updated the new regulation for mimics and ghee standards.
• Lack of feed and fodder: Too many inefficient animals compete with dairy cows that are productive for the limited supply of feed and fodder that is available.
• Due to industrial growth, the grazing area is drastically shrinking each year, which makes it difficult to offer enough feed and fodder to meet demand.
• Education and Training: India's rural areas, especially, lack robust education and training programs on excellent dairy practices.
• Health: Veterinary hospitals are scattered in remote areas. Because of the larger ratio between the population of cattle and veterinary hospitals, animals receive insufficient health care.
• Conditions for hygiene: Many cattle owners do not give their animals the required protection, leaving them vulnerable to harsh weather, which aggravates cases of mastitis.
• High import duty: One of the obstacles to exporting is the difficulty in accessing markets in China, the EU, South Africa, and Mexico. Another is the high import duty imposed by the SAARC and nearby nations like Bangladesh (35%) and Pakistan (45%).

Initiatives Related to the Dairy sector

RGM: Rashtriya Gokul Mission

• It was started in December 2014 with a budget of Rs 2025 crore for the improvement and preservation of native breeds through breeding tract selection and genetic improvement of the unremarkable bovine population.

National Animal Disease Manage Program (NADCP)

• It was established in September 2019 to control Foot & Mouth Disease and Brucellosis by immunizing all cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs for FMD and all female cattle calves between the ages of 4 and 8 months for brucellosis (2019-20 to 2023-24).

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund:

• It has been approved for encouraging investments from private businesses, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 firms to create the infrastructure for processing dairy products and adding value.
• Infrastructure for value addition and meat processing.
• Plant for animal feed.

Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS):

• The Department of Animal Husbandry, dairying, and fisheries are putting DEDS into action to create self-employment opportunities in the dairy sector. It covers activities like improving milk production, buying, preserving, transporting, processing, and marketing milk by offering back-ended capital subsidies for bankable projects.

Pashu-Aadhar:

• It is a distinct ID in a digital platform for animal traceability.

Pashu Dhan

• The idea of "Pashu Dhan" and jobs involving milk have been significant components of Indian culture for a thousand years.

• Localized treatment for lumpy skin disease
• For lumpy skin disease, our experts have created an indigenous vaccination. Additionally, quick testing and restrictions on animal movement are being implemented in an effort to manage the disease.

"Dairy Sahakar" scheme

• At a celebration for Amul's 75th anniversary of its founding in Anand, Gujarat, the Union Minister of Home Affairs and Corporation introduced the "Dairy Sahakar" program.
• To accomplish the aim of "from collaboration to prosperity," the Ministry of Cooperation would implement the Dairy Sahakar with a total investment of Rs 5000 crore.

Mission National Digital Livestock (NDLM)

• On the basis of the current Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) and NDDB are collaboratively developing this digital platform (INAPH)..

Fund for the Development of Dairy Processing and Infrastructure (DIDF) Program

• Launched on December 21st, 2017
• Objectives: to upgrade the milk processing and chilling facilities, adding value

E-GOPALA:

• To assist dairy producers, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has created the web version of the e-GOPALA application.

2021 Gopal Ratna Award

• It is one of the top National Awards in the livestock and dairy industries and was introduced by the Department in 2021.

National Program for Artificial Insemination:

• It was launched in September 2019, and as part of the program, farmers can receive AI services at no cost to them.

Way ahead

• The dairy industry in India is better renowned for mass production than for production by the masses.
• India has more per capita milk availability than the rest of the globe.
• Production growth: In 2014, India produced 146 million tonnes of milk. Now, it stands at 210 million tonnes. That represents an increase of nearly 44%.
• Growth: India's milk production is increasing at a rate of more than 6%, compared to a 2% global production growth rate.
• Vaccination: By 2025, the government plans to vaccinate all animals against brucellosis and foot-and-mouth disease.

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