Centre consulting states for finalising National Dairy Plan

Central government in consultation with state governments is progressing towards finalising the National Dairy Plan (NDP), which aims to achieve 180 million tonnes of milk production by 2021—22.

“Consulation with state government is in progress for finalisation of NDP-Phase 1,” the Minister of state for Agriculture and Food Processing Arun Yadav said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The NDP phase-1, prepared by National Dairy Development Board, is a multi-state initiative to increase productivity of milch animals and thereby increase milk production to meet the growing demand, he said.

The minister said the government envisages increasing the share of organised sector in milk from the current 30 per cent to about 65 per cent of total marketable surplus of milk by year 2021-22.

The International Development Association (IDA) may provide grant-in-aid for implementation of NDP, he added.

India being the world’s largest milk producer is resorted to import of milk powder this year to meet the rising domestic demand and contain prices, which have increased 30 per cent in retail markets in the last one year.