Centre keen to promote A2 cow milk to lift farmers’ income

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Monday laid stress on creating a separate mechanism for procurement and sale of indigenous cow milk under the brand name A2 by encouraging the use of technology.

The Minister, addressing a gathering of over 650 farmers at a National Workshop, ‘Role of Technology in Doubling Income of Farmers’ at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Anand, stated that the Centre has incentivised indigenous cow milk production by providing dedicated funds to Karnataka and Odisha, while some states, such as Punjab and Haryana, have already conducted successful experiments in popularising A2 milk.

Pointing at the potential of A2 milk to increase farmers’ income, Singh stated: “We came to know from farmers that indigenous cow milk is fetching lower prices, which is obviously due to lower fat content. But, there is a need to popularise it by incentivising farmers with use of technology.”

He appealed to the apex dairy institution, NDDB, and leading dairy brand Amul to take the lead in strengthening A2 milk.

“We need to focus on separate procurement and sale of indigenous cow milk. About 80 per cent of the farmers, who are small and marginal, and also those who are land-less farmers, depend on the cow. This 80 per cent of farmers contributes only 20 per cent to the total milk production. Why can’t technology be used to help them increase production and get a better price for indigenous cow milk,” said Singh, urging bodies such as the NDDB and Amul to explore how to address this challenge using new technologies.

“India has been the world’s largest milk producer for over two decades, contributing about 19 per cent of the world’s milk supplies. But if we can't help farmers in such challenges, all our talk on technology is a futile exercise,” said the Minister.

A2 milk has grabbed the Centre’s attention for its nutritional benefits and high business potential in the milk consumer class. Typically, A2 milk — rich in A2 Beta-Casein protein — sells for double the normal rate for cow milk, which is ₹40-42 a litre.

Only native Indian cow breeds contain A2 protein, mostly Sahiwal from Punjab, Gir from Gujarat, and Tharparkar from Rajasthan. Branded milk sellers, including Amul, market milk produced from indigeneous cows under the A2 brand.