Anushruti Singh
India has achieved the top position in global milk production, contributing a remarkable 25 per cent of the world’s total milk output. With an annual growth rate of about 6% over the past nine years, India’s milk production has reached a per capita availability of 459 grams per day, making the country self-sufficient in meeting domestic demand.
The government’s proactive measures have significantly bolstered the dairy sector. One of the flagship initiatives is the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). Launched under the Prime Minister’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package on June 24, 2020, AHIDF has now been realigned with the merger of the Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) and extended for the next three years. The fund size for this extended period is Rs. 29,110.25 crore.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has implemented several key schemes to enhance the domestic dairy industry’s share and improve its contribution to the country’s GDP. These initiatives include:
- Rashtriya Gokul Mission: This mission focuses on the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of the bovine population, and enhancing milk production and productivity.
- National Programme for Dairy Development: Aimed at improving the quality of milk and milk products and increasing the share of organised milk procurement.
- Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund: This fund supports the creation and modernisation of milk processing and value addition infrastructure.
- Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations: Provides support in the form of interest subvention on working capital loans for those engaged in dairy activities.
Additionally, the government has extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to animal husbandry and dairy farmers to meet their working capital requirements.
