Recent Trends in the Dairy Business in India

Agriculture is the primary occupation in India. However, since most families have limited agricultural land, there arose a need for supplementary occupations. Dairy farming is one of the most important supplementary occupations in the country. In July 1970, India launched ‘Operation Flood’ (White Revolution), and within just forty years, it became the largest milk-producing country in the world. Today, India contributes 24% of global milk production. In 2014-15, milk production in India was 146.3 million tonnes, and the per capita daily availability of milk was 322 grams. Over time, this increased, and by 2023-24, the country's milk production had risen to 239.3 million tonnes, with per capita daily milk availability increasing to 471 grams. The total milk production in the country during this period was 1930.6 million tonnes, and the per capita daily milk availability was 39.60 grams. The average milk production during the same period was 193.1 million tonnes, while the average per capita daily milk availability was 396 grams. Recent trends in the Indian dairy industry include a growing demand for value-added dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and flavoured milk, a focus on organic and A2 milk options, increasing adoption of technology like automated milking systems and IoT for farm management, a shift towards online milk delivery services, and a growing emphasis on sustainable and ethical dairy farming practices with concerns for animal welfare and environmental impact.