India’s potential to boost economy through dairy exports discussed
Emphasising the need to explore export opportunities for milk and its products, GS Rajorhia, member of the Board of Directors, National Dairy Development Board, Anand (Gujarat), and former president of the Indian Dairy Association, New Delhi, highlighted India’s potential to boost the economy through dairy exports.
“India has been producing milk at a growth rate of 6 per cent per year, while the consumption rate is 4 per cent. This surplus of 2 per cent can be exported by focusing on quality. We should ensure the quality of milk by addressing adulteration. Safety and quality are critical for export purposes,” he said, while talking to The Tribune on the sidelines of the National Milk Day celebrations at the ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute.
Scientists, students, farmers, sportspersons and entrepreneurs, attended the programme which was organised to mark the birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien, the architect of India’s White Revolution.
Rajorhia also shared insights into the evolution of India's dairy industry and its vital role in ensuring food and nutritional security. Highlighting challenges in the sector, he pointed to low productivity among indigenous animals and a shortage of quality feed and fodder. “As per a survey of the Government of India, the average milk production per indigenous animal is 4.5-5 litre per day, compared to 30-35 litre per day for a crossbred animal. There is a need to produce protein-rich fodder to improve yields,” he said.
He also said that India was at the top in milk production, achieving a yield of 231 million tonnes last year, with an expected milk production of 242 million tonnes this year.
Dheer Singh, Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR-NDRI, emphasised the importance of collaboration among researchers, farmers and industry stakeholders to address challenges like climate change, supply chain efficiency and value addition in dairy products. He reiterated the NDRI’s commitment to research excellence and sustainable development in the dairy sector, lauding the institute's contributions to advancing dairy science and technology.
Padma Shri Kanwal Singh Chauhan, a member of ICAR's governing body, highlighted the transformative contributions of Kurien in empowering rural farmers through cooperative models. He also stressed the role of research institutions like ICAR-NDRI in bridging the gap between scientific innovation and practical implementation.
Meanwhile, Padma Shri awardee Narender Singh, Gopal Goswami, founder of Shri Krishna Gaushala, Jundla, and Rashtriya Gopal Ratna Awardee Ram Singh for their exceptional contributions to the dairy industry. Floral tributes were paid to Kurien, honouring his visionary leadership in making India the world’s largest milk producer. Participants took a pledge to uphold Kurien’s legacy and to promote milk and dairy as essential components of a nutritious and sustainable diet.
Millet milk protein-based cookies launched
A special highlight of the event was the launch of millet milk protein-based cookies by Smillets, an incubate of the ICAR-NDRI Agri-Business Incubator. The product was unveiled by Sarabjot Singh, Olympic medalist (2024), in the presence of distinguished athletes, including Samaresh Jung, Arjuna Awardee, and Rahi Sarnobat, Asian Games gold medalist. The launch symbolised the integration of traditional Indian crops with modern dairy technology to meet the demand for healthy snacks.
