India Could Import Milk If Output Not Increased.

The Economic Survey today warned that India, despite being the world largest producer, could become a net importer of milk in next decade if the growth in the sector is not accelerated to 5.5 per cent annually.

The report said the country has not been able to keep pace with the domestic demand for milk which is growing at about 6 million tonnes.

The incremental milk production over the last 10 years has been about 3.5 million tonnes per year, the survey tabled in Parliament by Pranab Mukherjee observed.

"Considering that the requirement of milk in 2021-22 is expected to be 180 million tonnes and the current level of milk production is 112 million tonnes, the milk production must increase to 5.5 per cent per annum in the next 12 years,"

"If the country fails to do so, India may need to resort to imports from the world market," it noted.

This would have adverse impact internationally.

A large milk consumer like India entering the global market (for import) would have the potential to cause international prices to spurt," it commented.

Though the country's milk production has grown more than six times since Independence, the average annual growth rate in the milk production in recent years has been close to 4 per cent.

The survey noted that India's per capita milk availability at 263 gram per day in 2009-10 falls short of world average of 279.4 grams/day as per a FAOSTAT (Food and Agriculture Organisation Statistic Database) of 2009.

The report also noted that despite appreciable growth in the milk production in the last six decades, the productivity of animals is still low.

Besides, our marketing systems are also not modernised or developed to a satisfactory level.

Source : smartinvestor.in