**Policy Summary: Milk Importation and Domestic Dairy Development in India**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding milk imports, domestic milk production, and the dairy industry.
**Key Concerns:**
* **Potential Milk Shortage:** The query raised concerns about a potential shortage of milk and milk products necessitating imports of approximately 3.5 crore (35 million) tonnes annually.
* **Impact of Imports:** Concerns were expressed regarding the potential adverse effects of dairy imports on the livelihoods of domestic milk producers, citing a recent study by the State Bank of India (SBI).
**Government Response:**
* **No Current Need for Imports:** The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying stated that there is no present need for large-scale milk imports due to stable domestic milk production and adequate commodity stocks.
* **WTO Compliance:** India adheres to World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations for international trade, including Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Limited quantities of milk products that comply with Indian SPS standards and applicable import tariffs are imported.
* **Domestic Production Data:** Estimated milk production for 2023-24 was 239.30 million tonnes, with a per capita availability of 471 grams per day.
**Government Initiatives to Boost Domestic Production and Protect the Dairy Industry:**
The government is implementing several schemes to increase domestic milk production and support the dairy industry:
1. **Rashtriya Gokul Mission:** Focuses on the conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds through scientific breeding and genetic improvement to enhance productivity and increase milk production.
2. **National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD):** Aims to enhance the quality of milk and milk products and increase the share of organized milk procurement.
3. **Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):** Provides working capital loans and facilitates market access for dairy cooperatives and FPOs, ensuring timely payments to dairy farmers.
4. **Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF):** Incentivizes private investments in dairy processing, meat processing, animal feed plants, breed improvement, vaccine production, and animal waste management.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Indian Parliament, where the unstarred question was addressed.
SBI: State Bank of India, which conducted a study on the impact of dairy imports.
World Trade Organization (WTO): An international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
Rashtriya Gokul Mission: A Government of India initiative for the conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds.
National Programme for Dairy Development: A Government of India program aimed at enhancing the quality of milk and milk products.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund: A fund by Government of India incentivizing private investments in animal related industries.
India: Country for which policy is being discussed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4340
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19TH AUGUST, 2025
IMPORT OF MILK
4340. SHRI T R BAALU:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
मत्स्यपालन, पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether due to acute shortage in domestic production of milk and milk products there is needs to
import milk and its products in near future about 3.5 Crore tonnes annually and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is true that according to a recent study by SBI, imports of dairy products including milk will
adversely affect the livelihood of domestic milk producers and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to increase domestic production of milk and protect dairying
industry in the country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(PROF. S.P. SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) & (b): No Sir. The Government of India, in consultation with State/Union Territory milk federations and
other stakeholders, regularly monitors the milk situation in the country. The situation has remained stable
owing to adequate commodity stocks with stakeholders. The estimated milk production during 2023-24 stood
at 239.30 million tonnes with per capita availability of 471 gram per day.
India is a member country of World Trade Organization (WTO) and follows all the regulations of the WTO
for international trade including the agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures. The milk
products complying with India’s SPS measures and applicable import tariffs are imported in the country in a
limited quantity.
(c) Government of India is implementing following dairy development schemes across the country to
complement and supplement the efforts made by the State Governments in increasing domestic milk
production and protecting dairy industry:
(i) Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Aims at the conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds
through scientific breeding and genetic improvement to enhance productivity and increase milk
production.
(ii) National Programme for Dairy Development: Aims to enhance quality of milk and milk
products and increase share of organized milk procurement.
(iii)Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations engaged in dairy activities:
Aims to strengthen dairy cooperatives and farmer producer organizations by providing them with
working capital loans and facilitating market access, ensuring timely and remunerative payments to
dairy farmers
(iv) Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund: Incentivizes private investments in dairy
processing, meat processing, animal feed plants, breed improvement, vaccine production, and animal
waste management.
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