Centre highlights infrastructure, livestock and milk sector initiatives
The Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening India’s dairy and livestock sectors through continued investments in milk processing infrastructure, livestock development, fodder availability and market access. Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, the Government said no reports have been received by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying indicating that farmers are unable to secure remunerative milk prices due to inadequate milk processing or cold chain facilities. It stated that milk procurement prices continue to be determined by dairy cooperatives and private dairies based on prevailing market conditions. Under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), Bhind and Datia districts in Madhya Pradesh have been approved for strengthening milk procurement infrastructure, including the installation of a 3,000-litre Bulk Milk Cooler in Bhind and milk collection facilities at 34 Dairy Cooperative Societies in Bhind and 14 in Datia.
The Government said it is also implementing the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) and the National Livestock Mission (NLM) to support dairy and livestock development. Under the NLM, 1.62 lakh tonnes of fodder seeds have been produced, 204 feed and fodder enterprise units have been approved and 100 fodder-focused Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been established across 19 States. The Government further stated that milk production increased from 146.31 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 248.87 million tonnes in 2024-25, while egg production rose from 78.48 billion to 149.11 billion during the same period. It added that the Bharat Pashudhan database, developed with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), will strengthen livestock traceability through a unique 12-digit Tag ID, while ongoing schemes aim to improve livestock productivity, disease control and export competitiveness.
Source: PIB
