MILK PRODUCTION LIKELY TO EXCEED 133 MILLION TONNE IN 2012-13

India, the largest producer of milk in the world, is set to produce over 133 million tonne milk this year. In 1986-87 – 25 years back – India produced just 46.7 million tonne milk. The production of various animal products has shown a steady increase over the years. Not only milk but also meat and eggs have seen significant rise in production, leading to better availability of these highly nutritious foods. Animals are important for the economy from employment and income-security points of view too. In India, farmers of marginal, small and semi-medium operational holdings (area less than 4 ha) own 87.7% of the livestock. It has been found that small and marginal farmers with livestock are better able to withstand the impact of drought. The table and graphic below show the production of milk, meat and eggs over the last five years. Milk India continues to be the largest producer of milk in the world. The estimate of the milk production in 2011-12 is 127.9 million tonne and is likely to reach 133.7 million tonne this year. Per capita availability of milk at national level has increased from 260 gram per day in 2007-08 to 290 gram per day in 2011-12. Meat The total meat production from cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and poultry is estimated to be 5.51 million tonne in 2011-12 and is likely to reach 5.9 million tonne in 2012-13. Eggs The estimate of egg production in the year 2011-12 is 66.45 billion and is likely to climb to 72.5 billion in the current year. As per CSO estimates of the value of livestock output for 2010-11, value from milk group [at constant price of 2004-05] was Rs.1,60,424 crore, meat group Rs. 41,933 crore, and eggs Rs. 8,052 crore. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current price for the livestock sector was 3.64 % of total GDP during 2010-11. (PIB)