India to be World's Biggest Milk Producer in 10 Years
INDIA - More reports emerging from the World Dairy Summit this week predict India to become biggest dairying nation within 10 years according to the International Dairy Federation.
9 November 2012
2 minute read
It is predicted that as populations grows and milk production becomes more formal India will rise to the top of global dairying.
Following on from reports from IDF yesterday that 1 in 7 of the world's population live on dairy farms, board member Chris James of Dairy Co has learnt more about the 'informal' approach to milk production in developing nations.
FAO predict that over the next 10 years, there will be another billion growth in population, with over 600,000 of that being in Africa and India.
The milk market in those two countries is mainly 'informal' relying on small holders producing single churns of milk in mnay instances.
Sometimes groups of smallholders form a co-op to cater for pasteurisation and better transport of product. The dairy systems can involve cows being tethered in stalls and feed being brought to then or indeed grazed. Calves also tend to be suckled so milk yeilds are typically 2000 to 3000 litres per year. This milk never gets to a processor, hence it is referred to as informal.
These systems resonate globally because it is predicted that growth in dairy consumption in these developing nations will be met from internal production and not from imports.
The aid agencies and indeed FAO see this type of production as being incredibly important from the aspect of nutrition and they estimate that for every 1000 litres produced daily, 70 jobs are created. India is seen as a great dairy nation and in ten years, will be the worlds biggest producer. More that the EU27.
This type of production also has a very low carbon footprint, as well as maintaining rural population. Therefore it is highly favoured by the FAO because of its sustainability.
TheCattleSite News Desk
