Gujarat ranked 5th in milk production

Gujarat has been ranked as the fifth largest milk producer in India with a procurement of 6,421 thousand tonne of milk in 2003-04. The nationwide procurement during the period was at 88,082 thousand tonne.

Milk production in the state has been increasing at the rate of nearly five per cent per annum. Experts in the sector are confident that the trend will continue in the future.

Gujarat had produced 4,913 and 6,421 tonne thousands of milk during 1997-98 and 2002-03, respectively.

Uttar Pradesh reported 15,943 tonne thousand milk procurement following Punjab with a procurement of 8,391000 tonne in 2003-04.

Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh procured 8,054 and 6,959 tonne thousands of milk, respectively.

The dairy industry in Gujarat is mainly in the hands of strong co-operatives where the 'Anand pattern' of dairy co-operatives have evolved.

On the milk production data published by the animal husbandry department of the Central government, chairman of the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union, Ramsingh Parmar, said, "The dairy industry in the state has witnessed considerable growth in milk procurement in the last five years. In fact, the actual milk production may be much more than what is being reported by various agencies. In a country like us, small farmers produce milk with small number of cattle and sell it in the unorganised sector and also reserve some quantity for domestic consumption, which is not reported."

The Kaira Union, better known as the Amul Dairy, processes nearly 10 lakh liter milk in the winter season.

Gujarat is also a major exporter with major contribution by the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) in total exports of dairy products.

According to estimates by industry sources, India exported around Rs 500 crore worth milk products during the financial year 2004 -05, of which GCMMF's share was Rs 125 crore.

A senior GCMMF official said, "Currently India concentrates on the domestic market instead of foraying into the international market. The per capita availability of milk and its products has not improved despite the significant rise in milk production in the last decade. In fact, India should feel proud of being nearly self sufficient in milk production. Meanwhile, milk production in the state is likely to continue its growth with grass root level activities by milk producers' unions of state".

The managing director of GCMMF B M Vyas was not available for comments.

The per capita availability of milk in India was about 220 gramme in 2000-01 that has increased to about 230 gramme during 2003-04.

Meanwhile, milk producers' unions in the state are putting up efforts to increase milk production.

"We have recently commissioned a new cattle feed factory with an investment of Rs 8 crore to supply better quality cattle feed to our members. We are also conducting artificial insemination programmes and also encouraging farmers to buy better quality breeds from out of state for better production," said B P Solanki, chairman of Panchmahal District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union that process about 3.5 lakh litre milk in winter.