New Delhi, Jun 1 (FN Bureau) Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Giriraj Singh on Tuesday said India is a global leader amongst dairying nations and produced 198.4 million tonnes of milk during 2019-20 adding that milk production has increased at an average annual growth rate of 6.3 per cent per year in the last six years. Every year, the first day of June is observed as World Milk Day.
Chairing a virtual program organised on the occasion of World Milk Day, Mr Singh said value of output of milk is more than Rs 7.72 lakh crore during 2018-19 at current prices which is more than the value of output of wheat and paddy together. He also mentioned that milk production has grown at an average annual growth rate of 6.3 per cent per year during last six years whereas world milk production is growing at the rate of 1.5 per cent per year.
‘Our dairy sector provides livelihood support to 8 crore dairy farmers engaged in dairying mainly small and marginal and landless labourers,’ he said. The dairy cooperatives of the country have the singular distinction of providing seventy five percent of their sales, on the average, to the farmers, Mr Singh said. Over 2 crore dairy farmers organised into dairy cooperatives and there are 1.94 lakh dairy cooperative societies collecting milk from milk potential villages, he said. Mr Singh announced the launch of the National Awards for the Cattle and Dairy sector, the Gopal Ratna Awards. The award has three categories – Best Dairy farmer, Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) and Best Dairy Cooperative/ Milk producer Company/ FPO.
He mentioned that eligible farmers/dairy cooperative societies/ AI technicians can apply for award online and portal for award will open from July 15. Winners for the award will be announced on October 31. He also announced integration of e Gopala App with UMANG platform so that 3.1 crore users of Umang platform will get access to App. e-GOPALA app (Generation of wealth through Productive Livestock), a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers, had been launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 10, 2020.