Union Agriculture Minister launches ‘National Dairy Plan

 “MISSION MILK’ - Union Agriculture Minister launches ‘National Dairy Plan’

- a new Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 2,242 crore to increase milk production to meet the rapidly growing demand for milk in the country through a scientifically planned multi-state initiative -

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to provide implementation support

West Bengal among 14 major milk producing states chosen to implement the phase-1 of NDP

 Kolkata, 19 April 2012:

In a significant event, Shri Sharad Pawar, Hon’ble Union Agriculture Minister, Government of India formally launched the ‘National Dairy Plan’ - a new Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of Rs. 2,242 crore to increase milk production to meet the rapidly growing demand for milk in the country through a scientifically planned multi-state initiative, today at National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Anand. Termed as “Mission Milk”, National Dairy Plan–Phase I (NDP-I)  was rolled out  in the presence of Dr Charan Das Mahant, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Processing Industries, Shri Bharatsinh Solanki, Union Minister of State for Railways, Shri Rudhra Gangadharan, Secretary (AHD&F), Government of India and Dr Amrita Patel, Chairman, NDDB. Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Animal Husbandry & Dairying Ministers and Secretaries of the major milk producing states were also present.

The Government of India has approved National Dairy Plan–Phase I (NDP-I) with an outlay of Rs. 2,242 crore. It is a six year plan to be implemented in the 14 major milk producing States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The scheme will be largely financed through International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and implemented by NDDB through End Implementing Agencies located in the states.

The demand for milk is projected to be around 200 million tonnes in 2021-22 as against the production of 122.8 million tonnes in 2010-11. It is therefore necessary to maintain an annual growth of over 4 per cent in the next 15 years. The objective of the NDP is to increase productivity of milch animals and thereby milk production to meet the rapidly growing demand for milk in the country through a scientifically planned multi-state initiative.  The Plan will also provide India’s 70 million small-holder rural milk producers with greater access to the organised milk-processing sector.

Speaking at the launch Honourable Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar, said, “In order to meet the food and milk demand of the growing population, the government has launched two plans. One is the National Dairy Plan and the other is to create a Green Revolution in the Eastern States of the country viz. Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhatisgarh etc.”

He said there was a need to increase the share of co-operative sector in the milk procurement process. Today more than 70% of milk procurement is carried out by private sector. He said the central government has made necessary amendments in the Co-op Sector Act to strengthen the co-operative model in this sector.

 

He said the World Bank has shown willingness to finance 80% cost of the overall project cost of 17000 crore. But we need to show them results in the first stage where they have agreed to release first installment of Rs. 2242 crores.

He said he foresees India to not only meet its domestic requirement of milk and milk products but also export it in the International market.

In his address at the function, Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat said, “although Gujarat’s leadership in White Revolution has been acknowledged world over, the state sees scope in improving milk productivity. He shared the state government’s initiatives in the sector. He spoke about ‘Pashu Arogya Mela’ a regularly organized program that ensures vaccination is provided to all the livestock in the state. He also said this exercise resulted in 100% eradication of 170 diseases relating to animals. Showcasing his government’s seriousness in the matter he said Gujarat is the only state in the world to provide dental treatment and cataract operations to animals.”

Dr Amrita Patel, Chairman, NDDB said on the occasion, “The NDP will put in place a scientific approach and systematic process which will take the country on the path to improving the genetics of milk producing animals and encourage the use of modern, proven technologies in milk production. In doing so, it will make much more prudent use of the country’s scarce natural resources, improve the quality of milk being marketed, and help strengthen regulatory and policy measures that will provide an  enabling environment for future growth of dairying in the country”

Multi-pronged series of initiatives to be implemented

Increasing productivity through scientific breeding & nutrition : Genetic progress over a larger population can be accelerated if breedable animals are bred using the semen of a few top high genetic merit bulls. The proportion of milch animals bred through AI need to be raised from 20 per cent to 35 per cent over the 6 year project period.  NDP envisages production of 2500 High Genetic Merit and disease free cattle and buffalo bulls of different breeds using internationally established practices of Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection and import of 400 Jersey and Holstein Friesian Bulls. Various A & B graded semen stations in the country would also be strengthened for production of about 100 million doses for use by Semen Stations across the country. A pilot model to demonstrate viable and sustainable AI delivery service that follows Standard Operating Procedures will also be funded under the NDP, to reach 4 million AI deliveries per annum by the end of NDP.

To provide high quality, disease-free semen for this initiative, it is necessary for state governments to notify bull production areas and semen stations as ‘disease control areas’ and also implement other disease containment and monitoring programmes.

Additional benefit of ration balancing : In order to maximise the genetic potential of milch animals, they must be fed a balanced ration.  An initiative to educate farmers on feeding their animals a balanced ration will be carried out by 40,000 Local Resource Persons. This is expected to lead to a decrease in feed costs, thus increasing the farmer’s income.  An additional benefit of ration balancing is a reduction in methane emission levels which is a significant contributor to green house gases.

 

Strengthening village based milk procurement systems : Steps will be taken to expand village based procurement systems by strengthening existing cooperatives and facilitating the setting up of Producer Companies or New Generation Cooperatives. It is expected about 1.2 million milk producers in 23,800 additional villages will be covered. Alongside, capacity building, training and education programmes will promote technologies and improved practices at the village level.

Project Management & Learning : Since the initiatives of the NDP are dispersed over various parts of the country, the programmes and their outcomes are to be integrated, tracked and monitored through ICT systems for effective decision making.