Exports Rising to Meet Increasing Dairy Consumption
BANGLADESH – Milk consumption is growing in Bangladesh and domestic supply cannot match consumer demand trends.This is according to a USDA report on the Bangladesh Dairy Market which outlines average milk consumption expanding from the starting point of 44 millilitres of milk per day.
With the World Health Organisation recommending a minimum level of 250 millilitres, the USDA has reckoned a fivefold dairy consumption increase is on the cards soon.
However, domestic supplies are still lagging and exports are on the rise to meet the thriving dairy market. This is despite local milk production doubling over the ten years between 2001/2 and 2011/12 to 3.46 million metric tons.
This problem is reported to stem from dairy farming primarily being a ‘subsidiary’ profession. Instead, arable agriculture is more common in rural areas.
Other issues impacting fresh milk production include an absence of refrigeration. Historically, most sold milk has gone into processing into ghee, curds, sweets and other higher end products.
This has been done by the Doodhwala and Ghosh communities although industrial dairy processing of liquid milk has been a developing industry since 1952, the USDA added.
One eminent trade name in Bangladesh is Milk Vita, which currently represents almost half of total national processed milk.
TheCattleSite News Desk