India in the driver's seat in global milk product sector

The minister said milk product has increased from 137.68 million tonne in 2013-14 to 146.31 million tonne in 2014-15.

The minister said, "the dairy sector has witnessed several structural changes in production, processing and consumption that have been conditioned by the changing socio-economic conditions. Today we have been able to provide on an average 302 gm per person per day milk in the country, which is more than the minimum required recommended by WHO."

Talking about the Indian market, he said, "consumption of milk and milk products has increased in both rural and urban food baskets."

Consumption of milk and milk products in rural and urban areas by 29 and 26%, respectively, over the past decades.

Indian consumers are diversifying towards high value added dairy products such as dairy beverages, fermented milk products, western dairy products, functional dairy products, and packaged traditional dairy products.

Market growth rate for some of these products is in the range of 15-20%, said the minister.

He also pointed out that despite increase in total milk production in India, milk productivity per animal is far less than the average in developed dairy nations. Therefore, there is a need to focus on implementing technologies which result in enhanced milk production per animal.