**Executive Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2650 regarding India's status as the largest milk producer, the encouragement of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in milk supply, and policies for dairy animal healthcare. India has been the largest milk producer since 1998, accounting for approximately 69.43% of global buffalo milk production in 2023. The government supports SHGs through various schemes to enhance income and improve dairy animal healthcare via the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP).
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **India's Milk Production:**
* India is the largest milk producer in the world since 1998.
* In 2023, India produced approximately 104.39 million tonnes of buffalo milk, accounting for 69.43% of global production.
* **Government Schemes for Milk Production and Processing:**
* **Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM):** Focuses on the development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation, and enhancement of milk production.
* **National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD):**
* Component A: Creates/strengthens infrastructure for quality milk testing and primary chilling facilities for State Cooperative Dairy Federations, District Cooperative Milk Producers Union, SHGs, Milk Producer Companies, and Farmer Producer Organizations.
* Component B: Aims to increase the sale of milk and dairy products by enhancing farmers' access to organized markets and upgrading dairy processing facilities.
* **Supporting Dairy Cooperatives Farmer Producer Organisations (SDCFPO):** Provides interest subvention to State Dairy Cooperative Federations for working capital loans during adverse market conditions or natural calamities.
* **Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF):** Offers interest subvention for creating/strengthening livestock product processing infrastructure.
* **National Livestock Mission (NLM):** Focuses on entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, piggery, and fodder.
* **Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP):** Provides prophylactic vaccination, capacity building for veterinary services, disease surveillance, and strengthening veterinary infrastructure. Includes a component for affordable generic veterinary medicine through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK) and Cooperative Societies.
* **Support for Self Help Groups (SHGs):**
* The Government encourages SHGs to engage in dairy activities to enhance farmers' incomes.
* SHGs are eligible for support under NPDD, AHIDF, and NLM schemes.
* **Dairy Animal Healthcare:**
* The Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) is being implemented nationwide.
* Focus is on disease control, vaccination, and veterinary services.
**Impact Analysis:**
**Stakeholder: Milk Producers (Farmers and SHGs)**
* *Impact:* Increased income opportunities through SHG participation and access to organized markets. Enhanced productivity and animal welfare via better healthcare for dairy animals.
* *Action Required:* Engage with relevant government schemes (NPDD, AHIDF, NLM) to leverage available support for infrastructure, processing, and marketing. Participate in the LHDCP for improved animal health.
**Stakeholder: State Governments and Dairy Cooperatives**
* *Impact:* Enhanced milk production and processing infrastructure. Access to financial assistance through schemes like SDCFPO and AHIDF. Improved veterinary services and disease control.
* *Action Required:* Implement and support the various schemes (RGM, NPDD, LHDCP) to improve milk production, processing capabilities, and animal health. Facilitate access to financial assistance programs.
**Stakeholder: Consumers**
* *Impact:* Potential for increased availability of milk and dairy products. Access to affordable generic veterinary medicines.
* *Action Required:* None specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.
Self Help Groups: Groups encouraged by the Government to supply milk to towns, enhancing the income of villagers/milkmen.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission: A scheme implemented for development and conservation of indigenous breeds and enhancement of milk production.
National Programme for Dairy Development: A scheme focused on creating infrastructure for quality milk testing and chilling facilities, and increasing access to organized markets.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund: A fund providing interest subvention for strengthening livestock product processing and diversification infrastructure.
National Livestock Mission: A mission focused on entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, piggery and fodder.
Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme: A program to provide vaccination, disease surveillance, and strengthen veterinary infrastructure.
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; cited as the source for buffalo milk production statistics.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2650
TO BE ANSWERED ON 5TH AUGUST 2025
ENCOURAGING SHGS IN VILLAGES TO SUPPLY MILK
2650. SHRI ARUN GOVIL:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the country has become the largest milk producer in the world due as 65% of the buffaloes
of the world are available in the country and details of policies of the Government are available in
this regard;
(b) whether the Government has any plans to encourage Self Help Groups(SGHs) so that the milk can
be supplied to the nearest towns and thereby enhancing the income of the villagers/milkmen; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and policy/proposals of the Government for the healthcare of dairy
animals?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) Yes, India is the largest milk producer in the world since 1998. In the year 2023, India produced
approximately 104.39 million tonnes of buffalo milk, accounting for 69.43%. India’s contribution
to the global population of in-milk buffaloes has shown an upward trend, rising from 63.02% in
2022 to 64.06% in 2023 (Source FAO). Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD),
Government of India (GoI) is implementing the following schemes across the country to
complement and supplement the efforts for milk production and milk processing infrastructure
made by the State Government:
1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): RGM is implemented for development and
conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and
enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines.
2. National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): NPDD is implemented with
following 2 components:
(i) Component ''A'' of NPDD focuses on creating/strengthening of infrastructure for
quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities for StateCooperative Dairy Federations/ District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union/ Self
Help Groups (SHGs)/ Milk Producer Companies/ Farmer Producer Organizations.
(ii) Component ''B'' of the NPDD scheme "Dairying through Cooperatives” aims to
increase sale of milk and dairy products by increasing farmer’s access to organized
market, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and
enhancing the capacity of producer owned institutions.
3. Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organisations engaged in
dairy activities (SDCFPO): To assist the State Dairy Cooperative Federations by
providing interest subvention (regular 2% and additional 2% on prompt repayment) with
respect to soft working capital loan to tide over the crisis on account severely adverse
market conditions or natural calamities.
4. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): AHIDF provides
interest subvention at the rate 3% per annum for creation/ strengthening of livestock
product processing and diversification infrastructure thereby providing greater access for
unorganized producer members to organized market.
5. National Livestock Mission (NLM): to bring sharp focus on entrepreneurship
development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, piggery and fodder by
providing the incentivization to the individual, FPOs, SHGs, Section 8 companies for
entrepreneurship development and also to the State Government for breed improvement
infrastructure
6. Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP): to provide for
prophylactic vaccination against animal diseases, capacity building of veterinary
services, disease surveillance, and strengthening veterinary infrastructure. Also, a new
component of Pashu Aushadhi is added under the scheme ensure availability of
affordable generic veterinary medicine across the country through Pradhan Mantri Kisan
Samriddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) and Cooperative Societies. This will create an ecosystem
for Generic Medicine which will be affordable and of good quality.
(b) and (c) Yes, the Government encourages Self Help Groups (SHGs) to engage in dairy activities to
enhance farmers’ incomes. SHGs are eligible for support under NPDD, AHIDF, and NLM
schemes, which provide assistance for infrastructure, processing, marketing, and capacity
building. For dairy animal healthcare, the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme
(LHDCP) is being implemented nationwide, focusing on disease control, vaccination, and
veterinary services to improve productivity and animal welfare.
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