Milk production in the country is expected to increase by over 4 per cent to 127.29 million tonnes in the current fiscal.
“Anticipated milk production in the country during 2011-12 is 127.29 million tonnes,” the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Charandas Mahant, had told Parliament last week.
Milk output was 121.84 million tonnes in 2010-11.
On monthly per capita milk consumption of milk by State/UT, Mr Mahant said Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat are witnessing an increase.
Meanwhile, with an aim to boost milk production, the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, announced launching of a Rs 2,242 crore project with World Bank assistance to improve productivity in the dairy sector.
Though there is an increase in milk production in the country, considering the pace of population growth and surge in demand for the protein rich drink, the country needs to multiply its output. It is estimated that the country would require 180 million tonnes of milk by 2020.
Currently, the country has to rely on imports, particularly in summer to meet its domestic milk requirement.
Export of milk and milk products and casein products has been banned since February 18, 2011, to shore up its domestic availability.