Celebrating World Milk Day 2025: India's Journey to Dairy Dominance
World Milk Day 2025: A Celebration of Dairy
World Milk Day 2025: Milk plays a crucial role in our lives, from the first sip a newborn takes to the energy boost athletes require. It is essential for developing strong bones, enhancing immunity, and providing vital nutrients, including calcium and protein. Observed annually on June 1, World Milk Day aims to highlight the significance of milk in our diets, honor dairy workers, raise global awareness about the dairy industry, and advocate for safe and nutritious milk for everyone. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations designated June 1 as World Milk Day in 2001, celebrating milk as a fundamental food source worldwide.
This year's theme for World Milk Day is: “Let’s Celebrate the Power of Dairy.” It emphasizes that dairy is not just a meal component; it is vital for our health, supports farmers' livelihoods, and significantly contributes to the economy.
From Milk Shortage to Dairy Powerhouse
As per a recent release, India has emerged as a global leader in milk production. However, this was not always the case. At the time of Independence, the country faced a significant milk deficit, producing less than 21 million tonnes annually, with per capita availability at a mere 124 grams per day in 1950-51.
A pivotal change occurred in 1965 with the formation of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Dr. Verghese Kurien, recognized as the Father of the White Revolution, was appointed to lead this initiative. This set the stage for Operation Flood (1970–1996), one of the largest rural development programs globally. By the conclusion of Operation Flood, over 73,000 dairy cooperatives were established, ensuring daily quality milk supply to 700 towns and cities. This transformation enabled India to achieve self-sufficiency in milk and begin exporting dairy products.
This development significantly boosted India's dairy industry, enhancing its importance both domestically and internationally.
Global Milk Production Landscape
Since 1998, India has held the title of the world's top milk producer, currently accounting for 25% of global milk output. A recent press release noted, “While global milk production increases by 2% annually, India's per capita milk availability has surged by 48% over the past decade. In 2023-24, the average Indian consumes over 471 grams of milk daily, significantly surpassing the global average of 322 grams.”
India's Dairy Growth
India's milk production has experienced extraordinary growth in the last ten years. From 2014-15 to 2023-24, production escalated by 63.56%, rising from 146.3 million tonnes to 239.2 million tonnes. The press release highlighted, “This reflects an impressive annual growth rate of 5.7% over the last decade. This consistent increase not only fulfills the nutritional requirements of India's vast population but also showcases the efficiency and productivity of the dairy sector.”
In 2023-24, Uttar Pradesh emerged as the leading milk-producing state, contributing 16.21% to India's total milk output. West Bengal exhibited the fastest growth in milk production, achieving a growth rate of 9.76% compared to the previous year.
Additionally, various initiatives are propelling India's milk revolution, including the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), National Livestock Mission, and Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) for dairy farmers associated with cooperatives and milk producer companies.