India Retains Top Spot as World’s Largest Milk Producer, Empowering Over 8 Crore Farmers.

India continues to hold the top position in global milk production, contributing nearly 25% to the world's supply. The dairy sector has become the country's largest agricultural product, significantly impacting rural livelihoods, nutritional security, and economic growth.

      - India's milk production has experienced substantial growth, increasing from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014–15 to 239.3 million tonnes in 2023–24. This 63.56% rise underscores India's dominance in the global dairy industry.

      - The dairy sector contributes approximately 5% to India's national economy, highlighting its importance in the agricultural landscape and its role in sustaining rural economies.

Main Point :-   (i) Over 8 crore farmers are engaged in dairy farming, with women constituting nearly 70% of the workforce. This substantial involvement of women in dairy farming promotes gender equality and empowers rural communities.

      (ii) India boasts a vast network of dairy cooperatives, with over 48,000 women-led societies operating at the village level. These cooperatives play a crucial role in enhancing milk production and ensuring fair prices for farmers.

(iii) Per capita milk availability in India has risen to 471 grams per person per day, surpassing the global average of 322 grams. This increase reflects improved access to nutritious dairy products for the population.