NDDB proposes NDP to secure future of Indian Dairying

Ahmedabad, Nov 4 (UNI) The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has proposed a draft--National Dairy Plan (NDP), comprising strategies to increase the country's milk production to meet the projected demand of 180 million tonnes by 2022 and enhance the share of the organised sector to 65 per cent.

Speaking after release of the annual report of the Board for 2008-2009 here today, NDDB Chairman Dr Amrita Patel said, ''NDDB remains committed to assisting dairy cooperatives to strengthen their business and provide better services to their members.'' NDDB is also implementing a complimentary cooperative strategy by promoting new generation cooperatives in about eight states.

She said recognising the importance of increasing productivity, NDDB provided a range of technical and managerial services including establishing standards and protocols for quality bull and semen production. We also funded the production of genetically evaluated bulls through progeny testing, expansion of door-step articial insemination services, ration balancing amongst other services.

Dr Patel said the annual report stated that with an estimated outlay of Rs 173 billion, the plan focuses on productivity measures to enhance milk production as the average annual production will have to increase from 2.5 million tonnes to five million tonnes of milk over the next 15 years.

The other areas, the National Dairy Plan covers are strengthening and expanding infrastructure to procure, process and market milk through existing and new institutional structures. The share of the organised sector is proposed to be increased from 30 per cent today to 65 per cent ensuring supply of quality milk to consumers, Dr Patel said.

India remained the largest milk producing country in 2007-08 with a share close to 15 per cent of world milk production. However, a combination of factors led by high GDP growth in particular, has led to a rapid increase in the domestic demand for milk. Producer prices for milk continued to increase leading to a corresponding rise in consumer prices, Dr Patel said.

During the year, dairy cooperatives procured about 8.3 million tonnes of milk registering an annual growth of 5.4 per cent. On an aggregate, cooperatives procured about 14 per cent of the national marketable milk surplus from around 21 per cent of the country's villages and an estimated 18 per cent of rural milk producing households, Dr Patel added.

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