March 10, 2026

Milk production in Maharashtra, India, sees 63.8% growth over 10 years

The Economic Survey 2025–26 shows  milk production in Maharashtra, India, increased from 101.52 lakh metric tonnes (10.15 million MT) in 2015–16 to 166.26 lakh MT (16.63 million MT) in 2024–25, registering a growth of 63.8% over 10 years.

During the same period, per capita availability of milk increased from 239 grams per day to 358 grams per day, reflecting 49.8% growth in the dairy sector. However, the per capita availability of milk is just 358 gm/day compared to the national average of 485 gm/day (fifth rank).

Similarly, per capita availability of eggs is 65 eggs/annum while the national average is 106 eggs/annum (seventh rank). Per capita availability of meat is 9.5 kg/annum, while the national average is 7.5 kg/annum (third rank).

"Dairy serves as a supplementary activity to agriculture and has significant potential to generate additional income and employment opportunities for rural households contributing to improved nutritional levels," the survey stated.

"Under the co-operation sector, at the end of March 2025 there were 68 milk processing plants with capacity of 83.25 lakh litres per day (8.33 million litres/day) and 44 chilling centres with capacity of 20.66 lakh litres per day (2.07 million litres/day) in the state. During 2024–25, the average daily collection of milk by co-operative dairies was 43.37 lakh litres (4.34 million litres) and during 2025–26 up to December, it was 42.87 lakh litres (4.29 million litres)," the survey stated.

The survey points out that in October 2025, a decision was made by the state government to grant agriculture-equivalent status to animal husbandry businesses, becoming the first state in the country to do so. This decision provides relief to hundreds of thousands of livestock farmers engaged in dairy farming, poultry farming and goat rearing.

"The benefits include: electricity charges will be levied at agricultural rates for livestock units; uniformity in taxation including gram panchayat taxes at agricultural rates; interest concessions on loans for animal husbandry activities; eligibility for setting up solar pumps and other solar systems at par with agriculture," the survey states.

- The Times of India