UP tops in milk production in India; witnesses rapid growth with increasing investment

Lucknow: If India tops in dairy production in the world, Uttar Pradesh leads in its production within the country. Having been witnessing rapid development in the sector in the country, Uttar Pradesh contributes around 16.6 % to the total milk production in the country, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

Driven by the vision of the Prime Minister, the state government has taken multiple steps for the betterment of the dairy sector resulting in an increase in milk production by almost 10% in the last five years.

Dr. Indramani, Director, Department of Animal Husbandry, informed, “Milk production in UP was 290.517 lakh metric tonnes in 2017-18, which increased to 328.821 lakh metric tonnes in 2021-22. The state has produced 1,556.763 lakh metric tonnes of milk in the last five years of CM Yogi Aditynath’s government.

It is noteworthy that India is globally the largest producer of milk, with a production of around 210 million tonnes.

UP receives investment proposals worth Rs 482 cr in dairy sector

The third ground-breaking ceremony (GBC-3) held in June this year  brought investment proposals worth Rs 482 crore in the dairy sector in UP. The proposals will go a long way in augmenting the income of farmers in the state. This includes Duss Bareilly project of Rs 80.3 crore in Bareilly, Creamy Foods Limited worth Rs 60 crore in Bulandshahr, CP Milk and Food Products Private Limited of Rs 118 crore in Gorakhpur, and  2 projects — CP Milk and Food Products Private Limited worth Rs 100 crore and DUSS Lucknow worth Rs 124 crore in state capital Lucknow.

It may be recalled that Uttar Pradesh’s first-ever dairy policy was formulated and implemented in 2018 on the initiative of CM Yogi. The policy focuses on seeking investment for setting up milk processing plants in the organised sector. With the aim of doubling farmers’ income from dairying, the Yogi-led government in UP is working tirelessly to ensure utmost priority is extended to dairy development in the state.

The cooperative system is aimed to provide employment and services in society with the participation of workers and markets. This sector plays an important role in achieving food security, reducing poverty, generating employment opportunities for women, and providing a regular source of income for rural households.

It may be noted that crop production employs the rural workforce for 90 to 120 days, but dairy provides alternative employment opportunities throughout the 365 days of the year. Strengthening cooperative milk business across areas where agriculture is less practiced, will help generate alternative employment opportunities, especially for women and economically disadvantaged communities.

Women empowerment through ‘White Revolution’

Balinee Milk Producer Company Limited, set up in 2019 and with 40,000 members of 950 self-help groups, has been transforming the lives of rural women in over 800 villages in six districts— Banda, Chitrakoot, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi and Lalitpur—in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Preparations are underway to connect the Mahoba district with the scheme.

‘Balinee’ has done a business of Rs 314 crore till August 2022 and earned a gross profit of 17.94 crore. At present, over 1,32,000 liters of milk is being collected per day through 675 milk collection centres connecting 839 villages.

The company is funded by the National Livelihood Mission and the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in December, 2019. Under this scheme, payment is made directly to the account of women farmers.