August 20, 2012

As the compounded annual growth rate of India's milk production was higher compared to growth of population in the past one decade, milk production in the country is estimated to have increased to 127 million tonnes during 2011-12 fiscal year.

"The anticipated milk production during the year 2011-12 is 127.29 million tonnes," Minister of State for Agriculture Charan Das Mahant said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

The Minister said the compounded annual growth rate of milk production was higher compared to the average exponential growth of human population during the period 2001-11.

Mahant said the country has achieved significant success in milk production and cooperatives have played an important role in that.

Milk procurement which was 250.89 lakh kilogrammes per day in 2008-09 stood at 262.12 lakh kilogrammes daily in 2010-11, he said.

Likewise, milk marketing which was 201.03 lakh litres per day in 2008-09 rose to 219.87 lakh litres daily in 2010-11, Mahant added.

India is the largest producer of milk and milk products in the world and also the largest consumer.

According to reports, seeing the rate of population growth, the country is estimated to require 150 million tonnes of milk by the end of 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17).