India’s milk revolution driven by Verghese Kurien made the country the world’s largest milk producer. While the supply side of this story is often celebrated it’s time to shift focus to demand and ensure milk reaches the most vulnerable populations.

Why is Milk Important for Health?

Milk is rich in protein calcium and other essential micronutrients. It plays a vital role in the Indian diet especially for children. Research shows that milk consumption reduces the risk of stunting underweight and other growth issues in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Despite its benefits milk consumption is highly unequal across different regions and socio-economic groups.

What are the Disparities in Milk Consumption?

According to the Household Consumer Expenditure Surveys (HCES) by NSSO milk consumption is far higher among wealthier households. The top-income decile consumes 3-4 times more milk per capita than those in the lowest-income decile. Despite an increase in consumption by lower-income groups the poorest 30% consume only 18% of the milk produced in India. Additionally regional social and urban-rural disparities persist with urban areas consuming 30% more milk than rural areas.

What Contributes to the Disparities?

Several factors contribute to this inequity:

• Affordability is a significant barrier as many households would need to spend a large portion of their income to meet recommended milk consumption levels.
• While dietary preferences and lactose intolerance contribute financial constraints are a key driver of milk consumption disparities.
• In affluent areas milk consumption often exceeds recommended levels raising concerns about over-nutrition and obesity.

How Can We Improve Milk Access for Vulnerable Groups?

Enhance Milk Provision

To support vulnerable groups the government must ensure milk distribution through programs like the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (POSHAN) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). States like Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat already provide milk under these schemes but increasing financial allocations is crucial to expand coverage.

Raise Awareness on Nutrition

It’s important to raise awareness about the nutritional benefits of milk particularly for women and children. Programs like Poshan Maah in states like Maharashtra and Bihar are already working on grassroots interventions. Increasing women's nutrition awareness can significantly enhance dietary diversity in households.

Moderate Consumption in Affluent Areas

The government should also promote healthy consumption practices targeting affluent consumers who often overconsume milk. Public health campaigns like the Change4Life Sugar Swaps in the U.K. could serve as a model to reduce excess consumption of milk-based products and encourage balanced diets.

What Can Be Done to Ensure Equitable Access?

• Boost milk provisions in vulnerable areas through milk coupons and targeted financial schemes.
• Increase collaboration with institutions like the National Institute of Nutrition to integrate culturally appropriate milk products.
• Encourage innovative financing such as social bonds and corporate funding for milk access schemes.

Milk is crucial for nutrition security in India. By addressing these disparities India can ensure that the benefits of the milk revolution are available to all fulfilling Verghese Kurien’s vision of a nutritionally secure India.

Background Analysis of India’s Milk Sector

Background of the Milk Sector in India

India's dairy sector underwent a revolutionary transformation with the launch of Operation Flood on January 13, 1970 under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien. It remains the world's largest dairy development program a hallmark of India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Operation Flood converted India from a milk-deficient nation into the world's largest producer of milk surpassing the United States in 1998. Over a span of 30 years it doubled the milk available per person positioning dairy farming as the largest self-sustaining rural employment generator in the country. It was not simply mass production but production by the masses that propelled the White Revolution in India.

Tracing the History

In the 1950s and 1960s India faced a milk shortage dependent on imports and recorded negative annual production growth. Despite having the largest cattle population globally India produced less than 21 million tonnes of milk annually. During the first decade after independence milk production grew at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of just 1.64% declining further to 1.15% during the 1960s. To address this challenge the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was established in 1965 to execute Operation Flood in stages focusing on establishing Anand Pattern cooperatives across the country.

Operation Flood Phases

Phase I (1970–1980): The European Union's butter oil and skim milk powder donations through the World Food Programme helped fund the project.

Phase II (1981–1985): The number of milk sheds expanded from 18 to 136 and urban markets increased to 290 outlets. By 1985 43,000 village cooperatives with 4.25 million milk producers were covered.

Phase III (1985–1996): This phase enabled dairy cooperatives to enhance their infrastructure to manage increasing milk volumes. It added 30,000 new cooperatives resulting in a total of 73,000 cooperatives.

Milk Production in India

India is currently the world's largest producer of milk contributing 23% to global production. In contrast during the 1950s and 1960s India faced a milk deficit and was reliant on imports.

India's dairy industry is the largest globally contributing 23% to the world’s milk production. The industry contributes 5% to the national economy directly supporting more than 80 million farmers. Major milk-producing regions include Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. Key players in the industry include Amul, Mother Dairy, Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation, Dudhsagar Dairy, Aavin and Kwality Limited.

World Milk Day is celebrated every year on June 1 as declared by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). In India National Milk Day is observed on November 26 the birthday of Dr. Verghese Kurien.

Challenges in the Dairy Sector

Despite substantial growth the dairy sector faces several challenges:

• Breeding Infrastructure and Genetics: The rise in animal numbers has not led to increased productivity. India needs to enhance animal genetics and adopt modern breeding techniques such as artificial insemination.
• Animal Feed and Fodder: The growing demand for high-breed animals has led to a shortage of quality feed and fodder driving the need for better dietary solutions.
• Animal Health: High-yielding animals demand better healthcare and disease diagnostics which are currently inadequate.

• Farm Mechanization: Labor shortage in rural areas requires farm mechanization to address rising costs and inefficiency.
• Cold Chain Infrastructure: There is lack of chilling plants and bulk coolers. This leads to milk contamination and spoilage at the village level. Investment in this infrastructure is necessary to ensure quality.

• Quality Testing Infrastructure: There is a need for better infrastructure and trained personnel at milk collection centers for quality testing especially as consumer demand for safe and quality milk rises.
• Processing Equipment and Food Ingredients: As consumer awareness increases there is a rising demand for better processing equipment and innovative food ingredients.
• Suboptimal Production: India produces 137.5 million tonnes of milk with an average of 3 liters per animal per day significantly lower than the 30 liters per animal per day seen in developed nations. This highlights a gap in scientific farming practices and infrastructure.
• Policy and Regulatory Issues: The fragmented nature of dairy governance across states limits coordinated policy efforts and funding allocations for livestock.
• Malpractices: Issues such as forced weaning of calves unscientific hormone administration and poor healthcare standards in unorganized farms still plague the sector.

Government Initiatives to Boost Dairy Industry

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to support the dairy sector:

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: This mission aims to improve milk output and productivity by genetically enhancing cattle and promoting indigenous breeds.
• National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): Since 2014 this program has worked on strengthening the infrastructure for milk production procurement processing and marketing.
• Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS): This scheme provides financial assistance for projects related to milk production transportation and processing to create self-employment opportunities.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC): This scheme allows dairy farmers to obtain short-term credit at reasonable interest rates.
• Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme: This initiative aims at eradicating foot-and-mouth disease through vaccination and biosecurity measures.
• National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development (NPBBDD): This scheme has worked on creating milk storage facilities bulk milk coolers and processing units for dairy farmers.

Future Prospects

Despite the growth and improvements in infrastructure the future of India's dairy sector depends on further enhancing backward integration and developing cold chain infrastructure. As milk processing capacity increases the procurement of quality milk will remain critical and the entire dairy supply chain will need further improvements. Government and private sector investments will be key to expanding this sector.

Conclusion

India's dairy industry, driven by Operation Flood, is the world's largest milk producer. Despite challenges like low productivity and infrastructure gaps, government initiatives and technological advancements can ensure sustained growth, benefiting farmers and meeting rising demand.

Source:
The Hindu