Introduction of Dairy Farming in India

Dairy Farm

Traditional method of Milking

Dairying as is generally understood and practical the world over, implies breeding, feeding and management of cattle (cows and buffaloes) and production, handling and marketing of their milk and milk products on satisfactory and economic basis.

In the past dairy's was considered as the subsidiary industry par excellence of the cultivators which provides an occupation and an income at all seasons to them. Again it was considered as an indispensable food for one forth of the population which comprises infants and children who can not subsist without milk and for which there is no known substitute. However, conditions and ideas have changed. Economic development is considered as a process which relieves agriculture from its dominant position in the economy and in this context dairying has been considered not as a subsidiary industry but as a full time occupation that assures higher and higher income. In this context dairying has assumed new dimensions with emphasis on increased production through technical innovation and better management.

Our country has had a rich tradition in dairying since the time of Lord Krishna. Dairying has been inherent in Indian culture, for centuries. Milk and milk products have always been an integral part of our consumption habits. In the vast field of Animal Husbandry the contribution of dairying has been most significant, in terms of employment generation as well as income generation.

Indian dairy industry has witnessed considerable transformation since the inception of operation flood program launched in 1970 by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). This is also evident from the fact that the government outlay on developing the line sector rose dramatically from a mere 905 million rupees in the third plan (1961 - 66) to sixth plan ( 1981 - 88) total outlay of 3,966 million rupees on animal husbandry and dairying of which 2983 million rupees was meant for expenditure on dairying alone. During the seventh plan (1985 - 2001) 3028 million rupees was earmarked for dairying out of a total outlay of 4,679 million rupees for animal husbandry and dairying. Expenditure on dairy increased sharply during the Eight Plan ( 1992 - 97). Of the total outlay of 5304 million rupees for animal husbandry and dairying the proposed expenditure was nearly 63 percent. Such increased allocations in plan outlay is a reflection of the importance of dairying in governments overall policy en-compassion country's agricultural economy. As a result of concerted efforts towards total dairying development, Indian today ranks as the world's second largest mil producers and the value of output through dairying is the largest as compared to any other agricultural commodity.

Indian Cows